President Calls for Election of House Chair

(STVR, 'O 5 minut 12', November 17) Speaking on RTVS's discussion programme 'O 5 minut 12' (Five Minutes to Twelve) on Sunday, President Peter Pellegrini has called for the election of the House chair, as he doesn't consider this vacancy to be a good signal. He is concerned about Premier Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) statements that this is not the state's priority. "I think it's a priority to have three duly elected constitutional officials with full powers. I would be glad if parliament finally held this election so that we have any House chair," noted Pellegrini. He views it a bad signal both for the citizens of Slovakia and for foreign countries. The president also commented on the situation in the House after the MPs around Rudolf Huliak quit the Slovak National Party's (SNS) caucus. He views the stability and majority of the coalition as more fragile now. "I can comment on it, but I can intervene within my constitutional powers only when necessary," he said. Pellegrini also touched the adopted consolidation measures and the current situation in the health-care and education sectors. He thinks that these areas should be prime-ministerial issues. "The premier should deal with the fundamental issues of this country and not to hide behind ministers, though from other coalition parties, pretending that it's not his business," added the head of the state. ko