EDUCATION Minister Martin Fronc survived an attempt by opposition parties to have him recalled, the Pravda daily reported.
Only 69 MPs of the necessary 76 MPs voted for Fronc's recall. The opposition parties Smer, Movement for a Democratic Slovakia, and the Slovak Communist Party voted for Fronc's removal as well as 12 independent MPs.
During the voting the ruling New Citizen's Alliance (ANO), known for its objection to Fronc, left the session to demonstrate their stance.
The ANO argued that it does not support Fronc but did not want to vote with the opposition either.
According to Pavol Hrušovský, the head of the ruling Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), who nominated Fronc to head the education ministry, the ANO's behaviour was a "running away from responsibility".
He expects that the ANO will not act similarly when parliament votes on Fronc's proposed introduction of tuition fees for university education. Parliament should vote on the law today.
The ANO's support for the legislation is uncertain, however. Several ANO MPs have already said that it would not back the law because they did not trust the minister who drafted it.
Compiled by Martina Jurinová from press reports
TheSlovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the informationpresented in its Flash News postings.
