Slovakia’s New Government Faces Unprecedented Crisis

"No other government in Slovak history has ever started in such a complicated situation," President Zuzana Caputova said in a speech on March 19, expressing confidence that the cabinet would lead the country through the coronavirus crisis..

The new centre-right government is made up of four coalition parties: OLANO (Ordinary People and Independent Personalities), the anti-establishment party led by new Prime Minister Igor Matovic; the conservative We Are Family; the liberal Freedom and Solidarity (SaS); and the centrist For the People.

After being sworn in on Saturday, this motley crew took over from the government of former premier Peter Pellegrini and the long-ruling populist SMER-SD party.

"People expect the change that they've asked for from us," said Boris Kollar, leader of We Are Family and the new speaker of parliament.

That was a theme echoed by Matovic as he warmed to his new role as prime minister. "Let's show the nation that this country can be governed fairly," he said, adding that he would promote an open government that will "rule with the people and for the people".

Slovak President Zuzana Caputova (centre, red) poses with ministers of the new government after an appointment ceremony in Bratislava. Photo: EPA-EFE/SLOVAK PRESIDENT'S OFFiCE

State of emergency

Analysts agree that Matovic's government could not be starting work at a more difficult time. Since March 15, Slovakia has been in a state of emergency as it battles to keep COVID-19 from spiralling out of control.

"When we look at the conditions that previous governments entered into, this one is starting with the worst situation we've ever had," said Grigorij Meseznikov, a political analyst at the Institute for Public Affairs think...

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