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Gasparovic to Dismiss Stefanov on Thursday Morning (2)
Wednesday 10 March 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, March 10 (TASR) - President Ivan Gasparovic is slated to dismiss Construction and Regional Development Minister Igor Stefanov (an SNS nominee) on Thursday at 11. a.m., the president's spokesman Marek Trubac told journalists on Wednesday evening.
The date of Stefanov's ouster was agreed upon between Gasparovic and co-governing SNS party leader Jan Slota at a meeting that was held shortly before Trubac broke the news.
The ministry is now set to be run by Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Jan Mikolaj, added Trubac.
"Mr President showed us Prime Minister Robert Fico's request to dismiss Igor Stefanov, so in light of the Constitution he (Gasparovic) has to dismiss Stefanov now," said Slota following the meeting.
According to Slota, SNS won't propose a replacement for Stefanov, as this would be senseless in light of the proximity of general election (set for June). The party has agreed with the premier's proposal that the ministry be run by Mikolaj, said Slota.
SNS chairman also added that Stefanov will no longer be employed at the ministry, as "this would not be appropriate". However, Slota expects the ousted minister to secure a spot on SNS's slate for the parliamentary election.
In addition, SNS has no intentions to leave the governing Coalition in what would seem a protest against Stefanov's dismissal.
The Construction and Regional Development Ministry has done a great job over the last four years, said Slota. "A total of 780 projects towards the reconstruction of schools have been passed, 13,000 flats have been built. This hasn't happened since 1990,"
Fico called on Stefanov on Tuesday evening to resign on his own initiative, but Stefanov refused to do so, announcing his determination to stay at a press conference at which he was backed by the SNS leadership.
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