Tibor Gašpar (source: Sme)
Police Corps President Tibor Gašpar will remain in his post despite protesters in the streets calling for his demission. At his April 17 press conference, reacting to the resignation of Tomáš Drucker as interior minister the day before, he also claimed that he does not believe the voices against him in the streets of Bratislava represent the opinion of all society.
"The depoliticisation of the police the streets are calling for so much, is paradoxically political when it comes to the slogans regarding myself," Gašpar said, adding that within this play on emotions that leaves out reasonable arguments "a non-functioning picture of the police corps is being created".
Gašpar used the press conference to present his achievements during his career in the police corps, as its president and also before, explaining that out of respect to the thousands of police officers and his own family he feels the need to defend himself.
Drucker handed over his resignation personally to President Andrej Kiska on the same day.
Kiska assigned PM Peter Pellegrini to oversee the Interior Ministry while coalition was searching for Drucker's successor.
"I decided to take responsibility for the next step, because that is what is needed and necessary at this time," Pellegrini told journalists, asking them to give him a few hours. He will reveal the next steps regarding the Interior Ministry this afternoon.
Drucker is no longer interior minister. Pellegrini takes over in the interim. (source: Sme)
Gašpar says he will not resign of his own volition but will step down if the new minister (now Pellegrini) asks him to.
"I will not resign, I will fight this fight to the end," Gašpar told journalists.
He stressed that he believes the priority should be passing a new law on the selection of his successor.
Students from the #niejenamtojedno initiative will gather in front of the Interior Ministry at 15:00 to show that citizens are still aware what issues are important.
