Matovič to quit as prime minister if partners fulfill conditions

He made the announcement on the first anniversary of his government.

PM Igor MatovičPM Igor Matovič (Source: SITA)

Igor Matovič is ready to resign as prime minister if coalition partners fulfill the conditions his movement listed in their joint statement.

Matovič and the ministers of his OĽaNO delivered their statement at the Government's Office on the evening of Sunday, March 21, exactly one year since their government was appointed. It was a year "filled with determination and suffering", as Matovič put it.

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

In the past three weeks, the coalition of four parties that formed the government in 2020 has been struggling with a crisis. Junior coalition partners SaS and Za Ľudí have demanded that Matovič resign.

SkryťTurn off ads

Matovič now says he is ready to do so if partners fulfill the following conditions:

- SaS leader Richard Sulík steps down as economy minister. OĽaNO ministers wrote in their statement they considered this "absolutely necessary" in order to calm down the situation in the government.

- SaS MP Jana Bittó Cigániková steps down as the chair of the parliamentary health care committee, as per the agreement that was made when Marek Krajčí (OĽaNO) stepped down as health minister.

-OĽaNO "accepts the offer" of Za Ľudí - Justice Minister Maria Kolikova steps down and Juraj Šeliga resigns as deputy parliament's speaker. The new justice minister should be a person with no affiliation to the opposition Smer of Hlas parties.

SkryťTurn off ads

-One of the SaS ministerial chairs will go to OĽaNO. Matovič and his movement insist that this way, the distribution of ministerial chairs among the four coalition partners will be in line with the result of the 2020 election. SaS has three ministers in the government: Sulík as economy minister, Branislav Grohling as education minister, and Ivan Korčok as foreign affairs minister.

After his resignation, Matovič would remain as a cabinet member. He did not offer any more details on which ministry he would be in charge of.

Earlier this month, Marek Krajčí of OĽaNO resigned as health minister and Milan Krajniak of Sme Rodina resigned as labour minister.

The Slovak Spectator will bring more details soon.

Related article The fate of the ruling coalition is in Igor Matovič's hands Read more 

Top stories

Stock image.

Twice as many Ukrainians work in Slovakia now than before the Russian invasion.


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