PS and Democrats Call for TANAP Head Olexa to Leave Post for Poaching Wolf

Bratislava, January 11 (TASR) - The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party and the extra-parliamentary Democrats are calling for the resignation of Tatra National Park (TANAP) director Peter Olexa, as he has been convicted of poaching a protected wolf, TASR learnt on Thursday. "Olexa acted against the law in relation to nature. Not only did he kill a protected animal, a wolf, but he also kept its skull to display it at home. Such an action is in complete contradiction with the protection of nature, which he is supposed to ensure at TANAP, and a mockery of the public," said MP Tamara Stohlova (PS), adding that his resignation is required. "If he doesn't decide to take this step himself, we'll request it from [Environment] Minister [Tomas] Taraba [an SNS nominee] and, if necessary, we'll also convene a parliamentary committee," pointed out the PS MP. The Democrats are calling on Environment Minister Taraba to remove Olexa from his post immediately and publicly apologise for his nomination. According to the party's environment expert Michal Kica, Olexa hasn't offered the public any vision for developing TANAP. He comes up with controversial proposals, such as moose-breeding and building parking spaces, he noted. am/df