Rusko nears top post.

(From The Slovak Spectator)

Byline: Martina Pisarova Spectator staff

PAVOL Rusko, the parliament's deputy speaker and head of the ruling coalition's New Citizen's Alliance (ANO), has been nominated to replace departing Economy Minister Robert Nemcsics. On September 3, ANO's board of chairmen voted for Rusko as the party's new candidate for the economy ministerial post, a week after Nemcsics, as well as Deputy Transport Minister Branislav Opaterny, were told they no longer had their party's confidence. Nemcsics and Opaterny were slammed by ANO over their criticism of Rusko's leadership abilities. The latter official even compared Rusko to Stalin, while both Nemcsics and Opaterny told the media that the ANO boss was using his party as a vehicle for his own interests. While Opaterny's replacement has yet to be agreed on by ANO, many have been surprised by the nomination of Rusko, former private businessman and media mogul, who built and ran the country's most popular private TV station Markiza. At a press conference following the party meeting, Rusko said that he had briefly discussed the nomination with Prime Minister MikulaS Dzurinda, who officially names the members of the cabinet. Rusko suggested that the PM "did not say he disagreed with the choice". "I had the feeling that he took note of it, and that he did not find it unacceptable," Rusko said. Private news channel TA3, meanwhile, reported that Dzurinda wanted to consult with the remaining three ruling parties about the nomination. Rusko, in the meantime, pledged that he is ready to face the new challenge. "I know that being an economy minister is hard work from dusk till dawn and I realise what risks I am getting myself into," Rusko said. He added that he feels confident about his managerial skills to run the sector "with the help of a good team of experts". Outlining his first ideas for the post, he said the minister's goal must be "the creation of good conditions for the private sector, so that funds are made available", consequently boosting the country's economy. Michal VaSeeka, analyst for the Institute for Public Affairs think tank, confirmed that Rusko's nomination was "unexpected" and added that it was down to ANO's ruling partners and, ultimately, the PM to either respect or reject the nomination. "The nomination of the party leader to this post confirms that there has been a lack of trust inside the party in general, ...