President: Premier Hasn't Yet Given Me Proposal for New Investment Minister

Bratislava, March 11 (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) hasn't yet submitted to me a proposal for a new investment, regional development and informatisation minister, President Peter Pellegrini stated on Tuesday, adding that they haven't yet spoken about the issue. The head of state said that the opposition doesn't have enough votes to bring down the government, as the coalition has a majority of 76 MPs. According to the president, it is now a question for the premier to decide whether that is enough. Since the appointment of Rudolf Huliak (a Smer-SD nominee) as tourism and sport minister, the president hasn't met Fico about other personnel issues. The prime minister hasn't told him who will be the investment minister. "We've had no consultations, not even with a hint of a deadline and certainly not with any personnel proposals. I don't have any such information at all yet, and I don't know when the plan is or if this will be an issue at all in the coming days," the president told a news conference on Tuesday. The Investment Ministry has come under Smer-SD's remit along with the Tourism and Sport Ministry since the coalition agreement was amended. Pellegrini stressed that the opposition doesn't have a majority of 76 MPs, so it can't pass a no-confidence motion in the government, adding that the premier has 76 MPs after the appointment of Huliak and thanks to the signatures of Independent MPs who will support the coalition. The president also spoke on Tuesday with Parliamentary Vice-chair Peter Ziga (Voice-SD), who has been temporarily entrusted with the powers of the House chair. Ziga assured him that Miroslav Radacovsky, the substitute for Huliak, will be able to swear his oath of office at the beginning of a session, regardless of how many MPs are present. am/df