President Ivan Gašparovič on Monday appointed governing Smer party MP Ľubomír Vážny to the newly created post of Deputy Prime Minister for Investments.
"I'm glad to see that the prime minister [Robert Fico] has set up this new post and that you'll coordinate major projects in particular," the president told the TASR newswire. Former transport minister Vážny’s (2006-10) responsibilities will include, above all, projects involving large investments in road transport and railway infrastructure.
In his speech, Vážny thanked Fico and Gašparovič for placing their trust in him. He went on to say that Slovakia needs to have a strategy for developing the economy until 2030. "We'll try to receive the support of a constitutional majority [90 out of 150 votes in parliament - ed. note] for such a law," said Vážny. The new government member also pledged to make efforts to help improve drawing of EU funds in Slovakia. Vážny confirmed he still favoured the project of a broad-gauge railway connecting the east and west of the country. As far as the broad-gauge railway project is concerned, a feasibility study needs to be completed in order to determine whether or not such a venture would pay off, the new deputy prime minister said.
(Source: TASR)
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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