European Commission Vice-president for the Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič (source: TASR)
The ruling Smer party would like to see Maroš Šefčovič, EC Vice-President responsible for Energy Union, as its presidential candidate. The offer comes after Foreign Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák firmly declined to run, the Denník N daily reported.
"I have always done my best to make Slovakia come off as a successful, modern country," Šefčovič told the daily.
Šefčovič will leave Brussels after the European Parliament elections at the end of May 2019.
"I care about Slovakia's future and so it is natural for me to have seriously listened to Smer's offer to run," he added, as quoted by Denník N.
No definite answer yet
However, Šefčovič did not say whether he accepts or rejects the offer.
"I believe it is understandable that I need some time to carefully consider all aspects regarding this offer," Šefčovič told Denník N, adding that he would need more than a day or two to decide.
He admitted that several people have asked him to run for the presidency and strengthen, as possibly the next president, the position of Slovakia in the Union and in the world.
Lajčák has already said that Šefčovič would be a perfect presidential candidate, as reported by the TASR newswire.
If he decided to run, Šefčovič would have to terminate his activities and agenda in Brussels until the presidential elections are over regardless of the result.
Kubiš may run for president
Ján Kubiš, who served as foreign affairs minister in Fico's first government between 2006 and 2009, and who then worked as UN Special Representative for Iraq until December 2018, is also considering running for president.
"I will think about it in the following days, but I would like to receive broad support," Kubiš said in an interview with the Pravda daily, adding that he wants to be a civic candidate supported by political parties.
Kubiš' name has not received any offer from any political party, although some MPs for Smer previously said he would be an acceptable candidate.
