Finance Minister to be Central Bank Governor

Incumbent Finance Minister Peter Kažimír (Smer-SD) will become the new Slovak Central Bank (NBS) governor in March. Parliament approved a Government-sponsored proposal to this effect in a secret vote at its session on Thursday. At the same time, the House approved another Government-sponsored proposal according to which Jozef Hudak, a member of the Slovak National Party (SNS), will become the new NBS vice-governor. Incumbent NBS governor Jozef Makuch said last week that he would leave his post in March without providing any reasons. Originally, his term was scheduled to expire in 2021. Kažimír expressed interest in the post as well as his intention to leave active politics. The Opposition criticised the nominations of both Kažimír and Hudak, saying that the former has a political affiliation and is arriving directly from the Government, while the latter is a member of the SNS and is not professionally qualified for the post. The backing from the Parliament has yet to be endorsed by Slovak President Andrej Kiska.