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Svejna Resigns From State Secretary Post Over Hayek Affair
Friday 08 Octtber 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, October 8 (TASR) - Transport, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry State Secretary Ivan Svejna (Most-Hid) told a press conference on Friday that he is resigning from his post, TASR learnt on the same day.
Svejna said that he had already notified the respective minister Jan Figel (Christian Democrats/KDH) of his decision. Most-Hid chairman Bela Bugar passed on the news to Prime Minister Iveta Radicova (SDKU-DS).
According to Svejna, he's made the decision of his own accord, in order to protect both the party and his former colleagues from the F.A. Hayek Foundation.
A company called Hayek Consulting, which falls under the foundation and is co-owned by Svejna and Economy Ministry State Secretary Martin Chren (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS), was awarded an €8,100 contract with the Economy Ministry-led National Agency for Small and Medium-sized Businesses (NADSME) only days after both Chren and Svejna were appointed state secretaries by the new Cabinet, which took office on July 9. In mid-August Chren and Svejna disposed of their property interests and terminated the contract in question.
The contracts garnered a great deal of criticism, with multiple calls made for Svejna's and Chren's dismissals.
Bugar, who was also present at the press conference, expressed his regret at Svejna's exit. On the other hand, he said that he's happy at Svejna's return to Parliament, where he is to sit on the financial committee.
Bugar said that he's appreciative of Svejna's expertise and his decision aimed at protecting the party and the foundation.
Most-Hid hasn't as yet decided on Svejna's replacement, but aims to find one as soon as possible. The party's coalition partners - SDKU-DS, SaS and KDH - will be the first to know, though, with the media learning only later.
The coalition parties have differed on ascribing responsibility for the Hayek case. Radicova requested that the Supreme Audit Bureau (NKU) should conduct an inspection into the effectiveness of the funds spent by state institutions on contracts with Hayek Consulting. SaS party chairman Richard Sulik said that he simply views it as an ethical issue.
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