Cabinet of Eduard Heger

The Cabinet of Eduard Heger was the 12th government of Slovakia, led by Prime Minister Eduard Heger.

Cabinet of Eduard Heger
12th Cabinet of Slovakia
Date formed	1 April 2021
Date dissolved	15 May 2023
People and organisations
President of Slovakia	Zuzana Čaputová
Prime Minister	Eduard Heger
Deputy Prime Ministers	Štefan Holý Veronika Remišová Igor Matovič (2021–2022) Richard Sulík (2021–2022)
No. of ministers	16
Total no. of members	21
Member parties	Ordinary People and Independent Personalities–NOVA–Christian Union–Change from Below   We Are Family   For the People   Freedom and Solidarity (2021–2022)   Democrats (2023)
Status in legislature	Supermajority (2021–2022) Minority (2022) Caretaker government (2022–2023)
Opposition parties	Direction – Social Democracy   Kotlebists – People's Party Our Slovakia   Freedom and Solidarity (2022–2023)
Opposition leader	Robert Fico
History
Election	2020 Slovak parliamentary election
Predecessor	Matovič's Cabinet
Successor	Ódor's Cabinet

It was originally a four-party majority coalition government composed of Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO), We Are Family, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) and For the People. Following a coalition crisis in summer of 2022, SaS left the government, which resulted in a minority government.

The Cabinet was appointed by the President of Slovakia Zuzana Čaputová on 1 April 2021 and was approved by the National Council on 4 May 2021.^[1][2] It was formed after the previous Prime Minister Igor Matovič and his government had resigned, ending a month-long coalition crisis which started because of a controversial Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine purchase by Matovič. It was essentially a reshuffle during which Matovič changed positions with his party subordinate Heger, who is previously the Minister of Finance. Significant changes included the appointment of Vladimír Lengvarský as Minister of Health and President Čaputová rejecting the initial We Are Family nominee for Labour Minister Jozef Hlinka, which resulted in the reappointment of Milan Krajniak.^[3]

The Cabinet lost a no-confidence vote on 15 December 2022 and ruled until it was succeeded by a caretaker government composed of non-party experts led by Ľudovít Ódor on 15 May 2023.^[4][5]

Composition

Portfolio	Minister	Took office	Left office	Party
Government's Office
Prime Minister	Eduard Heger[lower-alpha 1]	1 April 2021	15 May 2023		OĽaNO
Ministry of Economy
Minister of Economy	Richard Sulík[lower-alpha 2]	1 April 2021	13 September 2022		SaS
	Karel Hirman[lower-alpha 3]	13 September 2022	15 May 2023		Cross-party Nominee
Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization [sk]
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization	Veronika Remišová	1 April 2021	15 May 2023		For the People
Ministry of Finance [sk]
Minister of Finance	Igor Matovič[lower-alpha 4]	1 April 2021	23 December 2022		OĽaNO
	Eduard Heger[lower-alpha 5]	23 December 2022	15 May 2023		OĽaNO
Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Minister for Legislation and Strategic Planning	Štefan Holý	1 April 2021	15 May 2023		We Are Family
Ministry of Transport and Construction
Minister of Transport and Construction	Andrej Doležal	1 April 2021	15 May 2023		We Are Family
Ministry of Culture
Minister of Culture	Natália Milanová	1 April 2021	15 May 2023		OĽaNO
Ministry of Defence
Minister of Defence	Jaroslav Naď[lower-alpha 6]	1 April 2021	15 May 2023		OĽaNO
Ministry of Agriculture
Minister of Agriculture	Ján Mičovský	1 April 2021	8 June 2021		OĽaNO
	Samuel Vlčan	8 June 2021	15 May 2023		OĽaNO
Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, and Family [sk]
Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Family	Andrej Doležal[lower-alpha 7]	1 April 2021	9 April 2021		We Are Family
	Milan Krajniak	9 April 2021	15 May 2023		We Are Family
Ministry of Health [sk]
Minister of Health	Vladimír Lengvarský	1 April 2021	3 March 2023		OĽaNO
	Eduard Heger[lower-alpha 8]	3 March 2023	15 May 2023		OĽaNO
Ministry of Justice
Minister of Justice	Mária Kolíková[lower-alpha 9]	1 April 2021	13 September 2022		SaS
	Viliam Karas	13 September 2022	15 May 2023		Cross-party Nominee
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport [sk]
Minister of Education, Science, Research and Sport	Branislav Gröhling	1 April 2021	13 September 2022		SaS
	Eduard Heger[lower-alpha 10]	13 September 2022	4 October 2022		OĽaNO
	Ján Horecký	4 October 2022	15 May 2023		Cross-party Nominee
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
Foreign Minister	Ivan Korčok[lower-alpha 11]	1 April 2021	13 September 2022		SaS
	Rastislav Káčer[lower-alpha 12]	13 September 2022	15 May 2023		Cross-party Nominee
Ministry of Environment [sk]
Minister of Environment	Ján Budaj[lower-alpha 13]	1 April 2021	15 May 2023		OĽaNO
Ministry of Interior [sk]
Minister of Interior	Roman Mikulec	1 April 2021	15 May 2023		OĽaNO

Coalition crisis

The "pro-family package" bill and SaS ultimatum

Following the breaking of her veto, President Zuzana Čaputová asked the Supreme Court to examine the bill's compliance with the law and to render it ineffective, stating the reasons she had previously articulated. The Supreme Court later confirmed that parts of the bill were, in fact, unlawful, and that the use of the shortened legislative process was not warranted.^[6]

The main reason for leaving the coalition and the ultimatum that was cited by SaS were the actions of Igor Matovič as Minister of Finance. They cited Matovič's breaking of the President's veto of the "pro-family package" with the help of MPs from the far-right, Neo-Nazi ĽSNS party (it was unacceptable for SaS that the government be aided by these far-right MPs when passing laws). SaS stated that since Heger failed to intervene and solve these issues, they decided to take this step.^[7]

OĽaNO support to Matovič

OĽaNO MP and chair of the parliamentary defense Juraj Krúpa announced his departure from the party and joined the SaS parliamentary caucus. He also became the team leader for defense within SaS. Krúpa was the only OĽaNO MP who did not vote for the "pro-family package" bill.^[8] On 11 August, OĽaNO announced that the party leadership along with their parliamentary caucus decided that Matovič would remain Minister of Finance even after the ultimatum by SaS ended.^[9]

Three official meetings of the former coalition leaders from all four parties took place in the government's Hotel Bôrik. SaS consistently refused to retract its ultimatum, but Richard Sulík clarified that if OĽaNO suggested he step down as a price for Matovič's resignation, he would be willing to do so.^[10] On 31 August, the last day of the ultimatum, OĽaNO announced that Matovič could resign if SaS agrees to ten proposals by OĽaNO. These included various policies which SaS disagreed with long-term such as tax raises, support for some form of the "pro-family package", and a point that said that SaS ministers or MPs would not be able to propose new laws requiring public spending without proposing the resources which should be used to cover these new expenses.^[11]

However, the ten-point proposal by OĽaNO was rejected by SaS and Sulík announced that he had already made the President aware of his resignation as Minister of Economy earlier that day. SaS further stated that Matovič had until 5 September to resign or else the resignation of the remaining three ministers for SaS would follow.^[12]

In September, the parliamentary caucus of We Are Family was joined by three independent MPs, among them a former ĽSNS MP Jozef Šimko.^[13]

Ministers resignation

Since OĽaNO decided that Igor Matovič would remain, Korčok, Kolíková, and Gröhling announced their resignation on 5 September and President Zuzana Čaputová accepted their resignation on 13 September. She appointed cross-party nominees Rastislav Káčer as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Viliam Karas as Minister of Justice, and Karel Hirman as Minister of Economy. PM Heger was appointed Interim Minister of Education until the appointment of Ján Horecký on 4 October.^[14]

Minority government

No-confidence vote in Matovič

After the government lost its majority, SaS, now an opposition party, initiated a motion of no-confidence in Matovič. He spoke in his own defence and attacked the media in his speech. In response, an open letter condemning these attacks was issued by the representatives of the most prominent Slovak media outlets. Several international press organizations also condemned the attacks.^[15]

Following the vote, SaS pointed out that Matovič was not removed only because of the three opposition MPs (who ran for ĽSNS) did not vote in favor of the motion, even though previously these MPs consistently voted in favor of no-confidence motions concerning ministers of Heger and Matovič's cabinets.^[16][17]

No-confidence vote in government

After Martin Klus left the SaS parliamentary caucus,^[18] OĽANO parliamentary caucus chairman Michal Šipoš postponed an gremium meeting between the party members. Matovič went to the Presidential Palace, signed his resignation and handed it to the President's Chief of Staff who then passed it onto his assistant in order to make a copy. When the assistant returned the original and the copy of the resignation to the Chief of Staff, Matovič took both documents from his hands, said he changed his mind, and left.^[19]

Cabinet with restricted powers

Following the vote of no-confidence, President Čaputová formally dismissed the Cabinet of Eduard Heger, and appointed it as interim government with restricted powers.^[20] Ten OĽANO MPs from the Civic and Democratic Platform who were advocating for a cabinet reshuffle left the OĽANO parliamentary caucus, reasoning they no longer had impact on the decisions of OĽANO.^[21] On 22 December, the parliament passed the 2023 budget with a deficit of €8 billion. SaS supported the budget after several of its proposals were worked in following negotiations with Prime Minister Heger. These included expenditure limits, cancellation of concession fees to fund the state TV and radio as well as a lowered 10% tax on hospitality and sports venues services.^[22]

After Matovič resigned as Minister of Finance, President Čaputová removed him from the office and appointed Heger as Interim Minister of Finance on 23 December.^[23] Upon being removed from the office, Matovič shared multiple posts using his Facebook profile centered around LGBT issues to attack the Slovak mainstream news media. Heger criticised Matovič, and both admitted that the departures of Heger and Minister of Defence Jaroslav Naď from OĽANO were likely in the close future.^[24]

Attempts for a new majority

On 9 January 2023, Eduard Heger announced that he would attempt to form a new government supported by a parliamentary majority.^[25] Heger later announced his attempts to form a new majority ended.^[26] A parliamentary majority voted for an early election that occurred on 30 September 2023.^[27]

Heger's departure from OĽANO and succession by a caretaker government

Heger announced his departure from OĽANO on 6 March 2023, stating his different political views.^[28] On 5 May, Minister of Foreign Affairs Rastislav Káčer informed the President of his request that his appointment be revoked.^[29] On 1 May, Káčer later clarified that he left Democrats with the intention not to remain in politics.^[30]

On 15 May 2023, President Čaputová announced that she would appoint a caretaker government that would rule until a new cabinet is formed following the early election on 30 September 2023, consisting of non-party experts led by Ľudovít Ódor.^[31]

Notes

1. Heger joined the Democrats party on 7 March 2023.
2. Sulík also served as Deputy Prime Minister.
3. Hirman joined the Democrats party on 7 March 2023.
4. Matovič also served as Deputy Prime Minister.
5. Interim Minister. Heger joined the Democrats party on 7 March 2023.
6. Naď joined the Democrats party on 7 March 2023.
7. Interim Minister.
8. Interim Minister. Heger joined the Democrats party on 7 March 2023.
9. Kolíková was originally nominated by For the People upon the formation of the government. After leaving the party on 8 September 2021 along with six supporting MPs and other former For the People affiliates, she founded a platform called For Just Slovakia. With the six supporting MPs having joined the SaS parliamentary caucus, she was serving as SaS nominee without party membership.
10. Interim Minister.
11. Independent nominated by SaS.
12. Káčer joined the Democrats party on 7 March 2023.
13. Budaj joined the Democrats party on 7 March 2023.

References

1. "President appointed the cabinet of Eduard Heger, called for empathy". The Slovak Spectator. 1 April 2021.
2. "Heger's cabinet has the trust of the parliament. MPs approved its programme statement". The Slovak Spectator. Petit Press. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
3. Anjel, Vlado (9 April 2021). "AktuÁalne Ministrom práce sa opäť stal Milan Krajniak". Topky.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 26 March 2022.
4. Janíček, Karel (15 December 2022). "Slovak coalition government collapses after losing no-confidence vote in parliament". PBS. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
5. "Slovensko potrebuje návrat k poriadku. Prezidentka žiada predčasné voľby ešte v prvom polroku". Sme (in Slovak). Petit Press. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
6. Kováč, Peter (13 December 2022). "Ústavný súd stopol Matovičov bager v parlamente. Dávky štátu pre rodiny to nezmení". Sme (in Slovak). Petit Press. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
7. Kern, Miro; Osvaldová, Lucia; Folentová, Veronika (6 July 2022). "SaS dala Matovičovi ultimátum, aby do septembra odišiel z vlády". Denník N (in Slovak). N Press. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
8. "Krúpa ide k Sulíkovi. Nie fašisti, prachy sú podstatou, reaguje Matovič". Pravda (in Slovak). 29 July 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
9. "Matovič zostane ministrom financií aj po uplynutí ultimáta zo strany SaS, rozhodli v OĽaNO". Sme (in Slovak). Petit Press. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
10. Gdovinová, Denisa (20 August 2022). "Sulík ponúkol svoju funkciu – ako cenu za odchod Matoviča. Premiér navrhol päť zmien vo vláde". Denník N (in Slovak). N Press. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
11. Biró, Marek; Piknová, Petra; Paulovič, Michaela (31 August 2022). "Koaličná kríza: Matovič odíde z vlády, ak sa prijmú opatrenia navrhované OĽaNO". Aktuality.sk (in Slovak). Ringier Axel Springier Slovakia. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
12. Madro, Peter (31 August 2022). "Čaputová: Takto sa vládnuť nedá. Sulík podal demisiu, čo spraví Matovič?". Pravda (in Slovak). Retrieved 14 September 2022.
13. "Do klubu Sme rodina vstúpia Tabák, Krošlák a Šimko". Sme (in Slovak). 31 August 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
14. "President appoints new ministers, criticises PM". The Slovak Spectator (in Slovak). Petit Press. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
15. "Slovakia: Deputy PM's attacks undermined government's broader efforts to strengthen press freedom". International Press Institute. 6 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
16. Biró, Marek; Sliz, Martin; Paulovič, Michaela (4 October 2022). "Igor Matovič zostáva na ministerskej stoličke. Opozícii chýbali na vyslovenie nedôvery len tri hlasy". Aktuality.sk (in Slovak). Ringier Axel Springier Slovakia.
17. "SaS nebude o predčasných voľbách rokovať so Smerom ani extrémistami". Pravda (in Slovak). 14 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
18. "Martin Klus odchádza z klubu SaS". Aktuality.sk (in Slovak). Ringier Axel Springier Slovakia. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
19. "Matovič prišiel doručiť demisiu prezidentke, následne si to rozmyslel". Sme (in Slovak). Petit Press. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
20. "President Čaputová demands snap election before summer". The Slovak Spectator. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
21. "Z klubu OĽaNO odchádzajú poslanci Občiansko-demokratickej platformy". Aktuality.sk (in Slovak). Ringier Axel Springier Slovakia. 19 December 2022.
22. "Schválené! V parlamente prešiel štátny rozpočet na budúci rok". TA3 (in Slovak). 22 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
23. "Slovak president removes finance minister as part of budget deal". Reuters. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
24. "Matovič's party might shed important members, including Heger". The Slovak Spectator. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
25. "Slovak caretaker PM seeks new majority to finish term". Reuters. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
26. "Heger's quest ends in failure, starts talks on snap elections". The Slovak Spectator. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
27. "Slovakia will hold early election in Sept, pro-Ukraine stance at stake". Reuters. 31 January 2023.
28. Dlhopolec, Peter (7 March 2023). "Interim PM Heger leaves ruling party, finds new political home". The Slovak Spectator. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
29. "Slovak foreign minister quits in fresh blow to ailing cabinet". Reuters. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
30. "Požiadal som o zbavenie poverenia, aby prezidentka menovala úradnícku vládu, priznal Rastislav Káčer". Aktuality.sk (in Slovak). 12 May 2023.
31. Dlhopolec, Peter (7 May 2023). "Slovak PM Eduard Heger resigns". The Slovak Spectator. Retrieved 8 May 2023.

External links

• Website of the Slovak Government