New cabinet is rejected in Slovakia murder fallout

SLOVAKIA’S political crisis escalated yesterday after its president rejected a proposed new government on the grounds that it was not fit to investigate the death of a journalist that toppled the last administration.

The head of state was concerned that the candidate for interior minister was not independent enough to lead the inquiry into the death of Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová, his fiancée.

The shooting of the reporter, who had been investigating alleged ties between politicians and Italy’s ’Ndrangheta mafia, last week brought down Robert Fico, the prime minister.

Mr Fico was replaced by Peter Pellegrini, a member of the same party, whose proposed cabinet was then rejected by Andrej Kiska, the president.

The role of interior minister was to go to Jozef Raz, a political independent who is currently the health ministry’s chief of staff. It is a key role, because the interior minister will oversee the investigation into the murder of Mr Kuciak and Miss Kušnírová, both 27, amid widespread scepticism over the impartiality of police, prosecutors and the judicial system.

Mr Raz is a friend of the previous interior minister, Robert Kaliňák, who resigned last week. He attended Mr Kaliňák’s 40th birthday party and told local media that they knew each other through the motorbike scene.

Mr Kiska asked Mr Pellegrini to come up with a new cabinet by Friday. That will coincide with more marches and protests around the country, in which Slovaks will again call for new elections and a thorough investigation into the assassinations.