SNS leader Andrej Danko. (source: TASR)
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Andrej Danko, who is also leader of the governing coalition's Slovak National Party (SNS) and has recently floated the idea of running for president, was last night involved in a potentially serious car crash after which he fled the scene.
The crash occurred on Thursday night (January 11) in the Bratislava borough of Dubravka. His car struck a traffic light at a pedestrian crossing, wrecking it, after which he drove away from the accident – reportedly, without calling the police. The website Startitup first broke the news.
Although, according to the traffic code, anyone involved in a traffic accident is required to call the police and remain at the place of the incident until an officer arrives, Danko did not do so. The code states that an incident in which "the road or a generally useful device becomes inoperable" – i.e. not just an incident involving other road users – is included.
According to Startitup, "Allegedly, Andrej Danko did not immediately report the accident to the police, he just reversed the car and went home. The police tracked him by following an oil leak that led to his garage and the reporters saw this with their own eyes."
In addition, the presence of one of the registration plates from Danko's car, which was apparently dislodged by the force of the impact and later found at the scene, made it somewhat straightforward for the police to identify the culprit.
The site of the pedestrian crossing light in Bratislava's Dubravka borough that Andrej Danko reportedly demolished by crashing his car into it on the evening of Thursday, January 11. The broken light pole is visible on the ground in the background of the image. (source: SME - Patrik Sopóci)
Danko eventually confirmed the accident, saying "It happened, I admit it. My car skidded, that is nothing unusual. I hit the light, I reported it to the insurance company, I reported it to the municipality. If something still needs to be done, I will do it," said Danko. He added that he also cooperated with the police and issued a statement on social media.
The pedestrian crossing light that Danko struck is located on a long, straight two-lane section of road, and is where pedestrians would stand while waiting to cross the road. There have been no reports of injuries as a result of the incident.
Fleeing the scene of an accident is punishable by a fine in the range of €200 to €1,000 and also a ban on driving a vehicle for up to five years.
When approached by the Sme daily, several MPs in the SNS parliamentary caucus said they did not see any problem with Danko's conduct.
The leader of opposition party Progresívne Slovensko, Michal Šimečka, lambasted Danko and called on him to take responsibility. The vice-president of another opposition party, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), Branislav Gröhling, said the accident raises "so many doubts that it is untenable for him to remain in office". Similarly, the opposition Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) has directly called on Danko to resign.
The leader of the Slovensko movement (formerly OĽaNO), Igor Matovič, has publicly asked whether Danko was drunk.
In case Danko does not step down, the opposition intends to collect signatures to initiate a no-confidence motion in parliament next week. The opposition also wants him to explain the circumstances of the accident and to say whether he was driving under the influence of alcohol or not.
Update: This story has been updated to amend the translation of the word used by Danko to describe the accident from "slipped' to "skidded", and to add more details about the incident.
