Tomáš Taraba will no longer serve as Slovakia’s minister of environment. On Tuesday, 29 September, the National Council of the Slovak Republic voted to express no confidence in Taraba and dismissed him from office. The motion was supported by 77 present members of parliament, with no votes against. Seventy-three MPs were absent during the vote.
Dismissal follows escalation of coalition dispute
Taraba’s dismissal comes at a time of heightened tensions between the minister and the leadership of the Slovak National Party (SNS). On Monday, SNS chairman Andrej Danko called on Taraba to honor his commitment to leave the government by 30 September. Danko warned that if Taraba did not step down, SNS would support his dismissal in parliament.
The situation became even more complicated when Prime Minister Robert Fico withdrew his motion to remove Taraba from the presidential process. SNS then backed a parliamentary approach, allowing a direct no-confidence debate in the National Council.
Aktualizovane.sk already reported in August about the dispute between Taraba and SNS, with party officials mentioning his possible departure and naming Filip Kuffa as a potential replacement. Taraba could leave as soon as September, with SNS reportedly preparing Kuffa as their candidate.
SNS allied with the opposition in the vote
The parliamentary process was notable for the fact that SNS MPs joined forces with opposition parties to remove the minister. Before the vote, Andrej Danko also called on MPs from Smer-SD and Hlas-SD to support the motion.
According to Danko, SNS had exhausted all other options for resolving the dispute with Taraba. His statement, however, represents the party’s political justification and does not independently confirm all claims about internal coalition negotiations.
Taraba criticized his removal
During the parliamentary debate, Taraba rejected his dismissal and criticized Andrej Danko’s approach. He called it a significant moment that SNS, in dismissing its own nominee, collaborated with the opposition Progresívne Slovensko. He also stated that even after leaving his ministerial post, he would continue to support Robert Fico’s government.
The long-running conflict between Taraba and SNS was not only a personal issue. The party also publicly criticized several actions of the environment ministry, including the handling of wind power projects. Aktualizovane.sk had reported on this dispute in August. SNS has also opposed one wind zone, increasing pressure on Taraba.
What happens next?
With Taraba’s dismissal, questions arise over the future leadership of the Ministry of Environment. SNS has previously indicated that state secretary Filip Kuffa is its preferred candidate. However, any appointment will depend on the actions of the president and the prime minister.
The dismissal also comes amid broader tensions within the governing coalition. The vote on the minister may therefore have further consequences for coalition relations moving forward.
Taraba returns to parliament, while Tibor Gašpar has spoken of the possibility of a blocking group of MPs.
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This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
