Two more ministers leave Slovak government over Sputnik V vaccine conflict / Article / LSM.lv

In Slovakia, the government crisis caused by the purchase of Sputnik V vaccines is deepening, as two more ministers announced their resignation on Wednesday. They protest against Prime Minister Igor Matovich’s decision to buy Russian-made Covid-19 vaccine “Sputnik V”. In the last two weeks, six of the 16 government ministers have resigned.

Slovak President Zuzana Čaputova has demanded Matovič’s resignation, but the prime minister insists he will only do so if he is guaranteed a ministerial seat in the next government.

On Wednesday, the resignation was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia Ivan Korčok and the Minister of Education Branislav Grolling. Previously resigned by Health Minister Marek Krajči, who is a member of Prime Minister Matovich ‘s party, as well as the Minister of Labor, the Minister of Economy and the Minister of Justice.

The government crisis was caused by Matovich’s decision to buy two million doses of Sputnik V vaccine from Russiawithout consulting the other members of the government. Other coalition partners considered that the vaccine could not be purchased until it had been approved by the European Medicines Agency.

Matovich had signed an agreement with Russia in secret, behind the backs of other coalition partners. Other parties opposed the move, and the acquisition of Sputnik V has caused a severe political crisis.

Matovic defended his decision, pointing out that the use of “Sputnik V” would speed up the vaccination of the population in Slovakia, which is one of the worst affected European countries in Covid-19.

European Medicines Agency on 4 March launched the accelerated evaluation of Sputnik V. ESA experts will assess whether the Sputnik V vaccine meets all the standards of efficacy, safety and quality in force in the European Union. If the assessment is positive, it will be approved for use in EU countries.

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