Freedom and Solidarity leaves government

Ministers for the junior governing Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) as well as the party itself are leaving the Government. Justice Minister Mária Kolíková, Education Minister Branislav Gröhling and Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korčok resigned on Monday. Economy Minister and party chair Richard Sulík did so on Friday. Freedom and Solidarity took this step after the head of the largest governing Ordinary People party Igor Matovič announced that he would not resign from the post of Slovak Finance Minister on Sunday. The TV Markíza reported that at least three MPs of the Ordinary People party have recommended that Matovič should leave his post. Matovič’s departure from the government was the condition of Freedom and Solidarity for remaining in the coalition. The party criticised him for populism, taking steps without previous communication with his partners and conflict communication. “One does not simply back down to manipulators and blackmailers”, reacted Peter Kremský, chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Economic Affairs of Ordinary People to the requirements of SaS. Matovič said that the departing party is bringing down the third government in the row. The cabinet of Prime Minister Eduard Heger will continue with a minority of MPs in the Parliament consisting of Ordinary People, For the People and We are Family party. SaS announced it would support reasonable proposals made by the government. Chair of Voice-SD party and opposition MP Peter Pellegrini said that PM Heger should initiate a vote of confidence in the Government. Other members of the opposition are calling for a snap election. Labour Minister Milan Krajniak (We Are Family) said that there could be a snap general election if the new cabinet would not work properly or if it would be impossible to pass new bills in Parliament.