Leader of the Czech ANO movement Andrej Babiš and Slovak interior minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas-SD) and have agreed to resume joint Czech-Slovak government meetings. Šutaj Eštok announced the decision on social media after attending a working lunch with Babiš on Thursday, October 16th. Babiš’s movement recently won the parliamentary elections in Czechia.
According to Šutaj Eštok
We discussed isues that confirm the need to restore cooperation between the Czech and Slovak governments, as well as to revive active collaboration among the V4 countries. I’m pleased that Babiš’s first foreign visit is to Slovakia.
During the meeting, the two also discussed emission quotas, known as ETS2. Šutaj Eštok calls them nothing more than the introduction of new green taxes, stating
These are taxes that families will have to pay simply because they heat their homes with gas or fill their cars with petrol or diesel. It’s social devastation—the impoverishment of families—and we must stop it.
Illegal migration was another topic of discussion between the duo. Both view the European Union Migration Pact as a form of false solidarity, rejecting both the migrant quota system and the fines imposed on countries that refuse to comply. The Slovakian minister emphasized that countries should have the right to decide whom to admit into their territory and whom to refuse.
Šutaj Eštok also expressed interest in one of Babiš’s priorities: the prevention and modern treatment of cancer. “Instead of spending on armaments, we should invest in improving people’s lives, treating patients, and preventing cancer,” he said—adding that immediately after the formation of the new Czech government, Slovak Health Minister Kamil Šaško (Hlas-SD) will meet with his Czech counterpart.
