Prime Minister Heger: I see no reason to remove Igor Matovič from the position of Minister (+ video) – Denník N

Igor Matovic published a photo on Tuesday of you still sitting at the government office at half past one in the morning. What have you been doing there for so long?

We had a very good discussion. It’s common for me to be at work by midnight. It was a good time yesterday that we could talk in peace when the phones were no longer ringing.

Only you two?

Yes, we were two alone.

Everything is OK?

I think so, within the political possibilities.

You are not corrupt, you are not arrogant about journalists, you do not have a boyfriend as an assistant, you do not argue with coalition partners, you do not promise double salaries, you have not even made a single diplomatic scandal abroad, and yet everyone says that you are a weak prime minister. Why?

You have to ask them that. I am communicating very clearly that results are important to me and that is what Slovakia needs. I’m not shouting politics. This year was extremely difficult, the second, third wave, the pandemic in its heyday and we had the most difficult time in the modern history of Slovakia. Nevertheless, I am glad that we have managed not to stop, to prepare reforms, to bring them into parliament and also to approve them. It is a key thing for the Slovak healthcare system, but also for the environment. I’m glad it worked out. I’m not the type to talk so much about what he does, because I like to act for people.

But support for OĽANO is very low. Isn’t it important that people trust you?

We at OĽAN are used to the fact that we always have significantly lower preferences than it turns out in the elections, and I am grateful to every voter, a sympathizer, who confesses to us in the elections. We are working with the mandate we have been given. It is important that the politician is stable and accountable to the mandate.

And preferences don’t bother you.

They don’t bother me, no.

Video: Interview with Prime Minister Eduard Heger (Monika Tódová, Martina Koník)

The fact that you are a weak prime minister is also indicated by President Zuzana Čaputová. He says we need stronger leadership at this time of pandemic. What does he mean?

You have to ask the President what she means.

The President specifically said: “The Prime Minister is a very consensual, intelligent and educated person, we have a very constructive relationship, but we are situationally on a stormy sea and the situation requires an even stronger rudder.”

It is very important that the Prime Minister and the President respect each other. I respect the President and I am glad that she respects me. Yes, there are things we agree on and there are things we don’t agree on, but I’m glad we can communicate openly. The prime minister has ministers, coalition partners, a parliament where he must negotiate and achieve a result, this is an art possible that we are talking about in politics. Discussion is part of politics and it is important how it is conducted. It must be constructive, factual, based on data. I call our coalition diverse and it still is. Each party represents its constituents, and that’s fine. The art is to find a consensus and solutions that are also good for Slovakia.