Home » Slovakia, the Sputnik vaccine costs the premier his seat

Slovakia, the Sputnik vaccine costs the premier his seat

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BERLIN – First government crisis caused in a member country of the European Union by the clash over the purchase choices for vaccines not yet certified by the EMA, in the case of the Russian Sputnik serum. Slovakian populist-anti-corruption premier Igor Matovic, who was elected a year ago, has submitted his resignation. Precisely by taking responsibility for having approved the decision to choose and order Sputnik nationally, without the green light of the EU drug authority. But also because his coalition was falling apart with incurable conflicts and the resignation of one minister after another. Matovic indicated his successor in the current Minister of Finance, Eduard Heger, who is expected in the next few hours at the presidential palace in the heart of the capital Bratislava to meet the popular head of state, Zuzana Caputová, and therefore to probably receive the mandate.

The government crisis hits one of the European Union and NATO countries most severely affected by covid 19. Despite security measures and two mass tests carried out by the authorities on the entire population, the small Central European industrial state, according to data dating back to 27 March, claims 9,426 deaths out of a total of about 5.5 million inhabitants. Also according to data relating to yesterday, the infections were 1,531, the average daily ones on a weekly basis have touched the figure of 1,292, while the total number of infected so far has been 357 thousand people.

The crisis was caused precisely by the decision of Marek Krajci, until recently holder of the Health Department, to buy doses of the Russian vaccine to tackle the pandemic without waiting for European authorization. The choice had been approved by Prime Minister Matovic, but had led to violent controversies in the governing coalition made up of Olano, the premier’s party, Za Ludi (for the people) and Sas (Freedom and solidarity). The government has crumbled day after day with chain resignations, against the backdrop of the tragedy experienced by the population.

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by our correspondent Alberto d’Argenio


The first to resign was Marek Krajci himself. Minister of Education Branislav Gohring followed him. Then the head of diplomacy, Ivan Korcok, with a spectacular gesture of protest against the premier, announced his retirement in Brussels during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers. After Korcok, the head of the economy, Richard Sulik, leader of the SAS party, and Maria Kolikova, minister of justice, had thrown in the towel.

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Until the last Matovic, in power for just over a year and considered a rising star of the Slovak political world before the pandemic, he had refused to resign. Finally, over the weekend he had released statements that finally opened the door to his departure from the scene. Now it remains to be clarified whether and which coalition Heger will be able to put together, and what credibility the fight against the pandemic will acquire. Early elections would come at the worst time due to the pandemic, and organizing them by direct vote would open new dangers to the health of citizens.

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