SNS nominates Filip Kuffa to replace Tomáš Taraba as Environment Minister

The SNS political party has nominated State Secretary Filip Kuffa to replace Tomáš Taraba as the Minister of Environment. SNS leader Andrej Danko stated that the relationship between Taraba and the party has not improved, noting that Taraba must resolve trust issues with party representatives by mid-September.

Prime Minister Robert Fico commented on the situation, describing Taraba as a good minister from a professional standpoint but acknowledging that the decision regarding a replacement rests with the SNS as the coalition partner. A prior agreement suggests that if relations are not reconciled by September 30, a personnel change will occur.

In a related development, the visit of State Secretary Kuffa to the municipality of Látky has drawn criticism from Mayor Mário Kubiš. The mayor expressed concern over the lack of prior communication regarding Kuffa’s visit to the Čechánky district, which concerned the planned Málinec – Látky pumping hydroelectric power plant project. Kubiš argued that the state representative failed to engage in an open dialogue with local government, meeting only with civic association representatives instead.