Independent MP and leader of the Ordinary People faction Igor Matovič has published a list of political nominees who have filled posts in the state administration, the TASR newswire reported.
“I laid hands on this list of people, offices and posts today and ... there are political parties on it as well,” said Matovič, as quoted by TASR. “Who knows what this means? If you know somebody [on the list] and something is wrong or missing, let me know, thanks.”
The list, labelled ‘Part 1’, features more than 1,000 names in alphabetical order along with the institutions for which they work and their posts. As well as the head of cadastral and tax offices, and the members of boards of directors of state-run companies, the list also contains the names of ministers and their spokespersons.
Governing coalition deputies quickly moved to criticise the list, arguing that it could harm people whose nominations were transparent and who really are experts in what they do.
“Eleven people on the list, who are labelled SaS nominees, have been there [in their jobs] for 10 or 20 years,” said Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party leader Richard Sulík, as quoted by TASR, adding that it is unfair to brand such people, who could have no links with any of the political parties.
Chair of the Most-Híd party Béla Bugár added that the fact that particular people were nominated by a political party does not automatically mean that they are political candidates. He also deemed the practice whereby political parties install their nominees for posts in state administration as normal, and certainly not linked to corruption. Bugár also suggested that Matovič was merely seeking attention with such initiatives.
MP for the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) Jozef Mikuš pointed out that parties bear responsibility for their nominees. He rejected Matovič’s allegations about alleged lack of expertise on the part of political parties’ nominees.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
