15 March 2018•Update: 19 March 2018
By Askin Kiyagan
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico resigned on Thursday, amid a government crisis in the central European country following the murder of a journalist late last month.
After meeting President Andrej Kiska, Fico announced his official resignation.
Interior Minister Robert Kalinak and Culture Minister Marek Madaric also resigned recently, after protests held to demand investigation into the murder turned anti-government.
After Fico's resignation, former Deputy Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, speaking to the press, announced his candidacy for prime minister.
Pellegrini said that the three parties forming the current ruling coalition are supporting him and he is expecting the president will hand over the task to form a new government to him.
While opposition parties are insisting on holding early elections, the new government to be formed by Pellegrini needs a vote of confidence from the parliament.
Slovakia is currently ruled by a three-party coalition consisting of Direction – Social Democracy (SMER-SD), Slovak National Party and Most-Hid Party.
The bodies of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak, 27, and his girlfriend were found in their home in the southwestern town of Velka Maca on Feb. 25.
Kuciak was investigating corruption in Slovakia and he is thought to be murdered over his journalistic actions.
