The governing coalition has decided to look for a new head of the Public Procurement Office (UVO) using a normal selection procedure and so has advertised the position in local media.
The move has disturbed opposition party Smer-SD because it was supposed to appoint its nominee to the post. The recognised system to date has always been that the opposition bench was responsible for putting forward candidates. Earlier this month Smer-SD put forward a candidate in the shape of Jan Valko, but the coalition rejected it as his nomination as did not meet their criteria.
Prime Minister Iveta Radicova spoke out this week saying that any position that deals with public money should not be filled by a political nomination, regardless of whether it is the opposition or the governing coalition. Deputy chairman of Smer-SD Robert Kalinak said the move undermines the democratic foundation of the country.
The post has been vacant since April, after former head Roman Sipos suddenly resigned without explanation. Now anyone meeting the criteria of 5 years experience in the field of public procurement and the necessary qualifications can apply for the job by 4 July.