End of Matovič government not ruled out as post-Sputnik crisis continues

Coalition SaS demands reshuffles exceeding the exchange of the health minister.

SaS leader Richard Sulik (centre) says government reshuffles are necessary. SaS leader Richard Sulik (centre) says government reshuffles are necessary. (Source: Sme - Marko Erd)

Igor Matovič may be forced to quit as prime minister unless he agrees on serious reshuffles in his government or finds another way to appease his coalition partners.

Related article Sputnik V vaccines landed in Slovakia Read more 

One year after Matovič's election victory, his coalition of four parties is facing its most serious crisis so far. It was triggered on Monday when Matovič and Health Minister Marek Krajčí (both OĽaNO) procured the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine and welcomed the first supplies of it at Košice Airport.

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

This angered coalition partners Za Ľudí and Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) who have opposed the procurement and use of Sputnik V in Slovakia unless it is duly registered in the EU by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Sputnik producers have not applied for EMA registration.

The rest of this article is premium content at Spectator.sk
Subscribe now for full access

I already have subscription - Sign in

Subscription provides you with:
  • Immediate access to all locked articles (premium content) on Spectator.sk
  • Special weekly news summary + an audio recording with a weekly news summary to listen to at your convenience (received on a weekly basis directly to your e-mail)
  • PDF version of the latest issue of our newspaper, The Slovak Spectator, emailed directly to you
  • Access to all premium content on Sme.sk and Korzar.sk

Top stories

Slovakia marks 20 years since joining NATO.

Slovakia marks 20 years in the Alliance.


Daniel Hoťka and 1 more
Píšem or pišám?

"Do ľava," (to the left) I yelled, "Nie, do prava" (no, to the right), I gasped. "Dolšie," I screamed. "Nie, nie, horšie..." My Slovak girlfriend collapsed in laughter. Was it something I said?


Matthew J. Reynolds
Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka.

Jan Konvalinka was expecting a pandemic before Covid-19 came along.


SkryťClose ad