Danko Calls on Kalinak to Take Action Regarding Chief-of-General-Staff Post

Bratislava, April 8 (TASR) - Coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) leader and House Vice-chair Andrej Danko has called on Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) to deal with the post of chief-of-general-staff of the Slovak armed forces, which is currently held by Daniel Zmeko. Danko, who would like to address the staffing of the post within the coalition, believes that Kalinak will respond to his call in a constructive manner. "In 2020 and 2023, the leadership of the general staff assisted [then defence] minister Jaroslav Nad with handing over S300 systems, MiGs and other military equipment [to Ukraine - ed.note]. If the Defence Ministry is demanding additional funding today, it's unimaginable that these funds should be decided by people who collaborated with Nad," said Danko. Danko conceded that in 2018, when SNS controlled the Defence Ministry, Zmeko was selected for the post by its minister Peter Gajdos. He pointed out that the then minister chose between Zmeko and Pavel Macko. "I think that he has given the armed forces what he could. It's high time for the Slovak army to have a new chief-of-general-staff at its helm who will move it forwards," added Danko. Four years after Peter Gajdos first selected Daniel Zmeko for the post, the government again chose him when the ministry was led by Jaroslav Nad (then OLANO, now Democrats). The chief-of-general-staff is appointed and dismissed by the Slovak president based on the government's proposal. He is subordinate to the defence minister, to whom he is accountable for the performance of his duties. He can be appointed to the post for no more than two consecutive terms. Zmeko's second term in office will expire in May 2026. ko/df