Richard Sulík (Slovak pronunciation: [ˈrixart ˈsuliːk]; born 12 January 1968) is a Slovak politician, economist and businessman. He is the leader of the political party Freedom and Solidarity and served as Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and Minister of Economy in Government of Slovakia led by Eduard Heger. Sulik and his party resigned from the government on 31 August 2022.[1]
Richard Sulík | |
|---|---|
 Sulík in 2022 | |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia | |
| In office 1 April 2021 – 13 September 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Eduard Heger |
| Preceded by | Andrej Doležal (acting) |
| In office 21 March 2020 – 23 March 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Igor Matovič |
| Minister of Economy | |
| In office 1 April 2021 – 13 September 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Eduard Heger |
| Preceded by | Andrej Doležal (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Karel Hirman |
| In office 21 March 2020 – 23 March 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Igor Matovič |
| Preceded by | Peter Žiga |
| Succeeded by | Andrej Doležal (acting) |
| Member of the European Parliament for Slovakia | |
| In office 2 July 2014 – 1 July 2019 | |
| Speaker of the National Council | |
| In office 8 July 2010 – 13 October 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Pavol Paška |
| Succeeded by | Pavol Hrušovský |
| Member of the National Council | |
| In office 13 September 2022 – 4 September 2024 | |
| In office 8 July 2010 – 1 July 2014 | |
| Chairman of Freedom and Solidarity | |
| In office 28 March 2009 – 16 March 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Branislav Gröhling |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 January 1968 Bratislava, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia) |
| Political party | Freedom and Solidarity (2009–present) |
| Alma mater | University of Munich University of Economics, Bratislava |
| Website | http://sulik.sk/ |
Political career
editIn 2010, Sulík replaced Pavol Paška as the Speaker of Parliament.[2] A former migrant himself, Sulík has strongly opposed the acceptance of subsidiarily protected migrants from the Middle East, and has expressed anti-Islamic views, stating: "I don't want to live in a Europe where more Muslims are born than Christians."[3]
2020
editAfter Freedom and Solidariity received 6% votes in the 2020 Slovak parliamentary election, Sulík was personally promised the Ministry of Economy, to which Igor Matovič denied. They dared to resign, with Matovič saying he would upon accomplishing what he had promised to his voters before the election.[4] Tensions soon arose, the Coalition Agreement signed by the four parties was especially ignored by Matovič, who blamed all problems mostly via multiple social media.[5]
As Freedom and Solidarity tried to block irritational measures due to the lack of regard for locals in specific districts and small business, Matovič asked during a press conference whether Sulík would be the one to go and dig the graves of the senior citizens.[6] Prior to this, all citizens in the country had to get tested within a given date.[7]
2021: Cabinet of Eduard Heger
editOn 1 April 2021, following Eduard Heger's appointment as prime minister of Slovakia, Sulík was re-appointed deputy prime minister and minister of economy in Cabinet of Eduard Heger. According to most pollsters, the public viewed this measure as wasting public finances.[8]
The same year in September, For the People fell apart and many defected to SaS, including the Minister of Justice. This was a gross violation of the Coalition Agreement, but Sulík insisted that the Minister of Justice Kolíková remains as the Minister of Justice.[9]
2022
editSulík called the failure of early 2022 votes "the greatest defeat in the political career of Igor Matovič".[10] There were also rumours on Matovič only shooting insults at SaS because he was doing horribly in polls.[11] The same year in June, Matovič accused SaS of working with fascists as Republika, another neo-nazi group in parliament, voted against the bill.[12]
Personal life
editSulík has four children: two each with his ex-wife Eva and Alexandra Šikrhová.[13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Sybera, Albin (6 September 2022). "SaS ministers' resignation leaves Slovak coalition without a majority". Bne IntelliNews.
- ^ "Richard Sulík is elected new Speaker of Parliament". The Slovak Spectator. Bratislava: Petit Press. 9 July 2010.
- ^ "Deutschland wird von Weicheiern regiert". Stern (in German). 4 November 2015.
- ^ Katuška, Michal (16 July 2020). "Matovič nazýval Danka za plagiátorstvo zlodejom, teraz je ním sám" [Matovič called Danko a thief for plagiarism, now he is one himself.]. Sme (in Slovak). Bratislava: Petit Press.
- ^ "Odkaz svetu od premiéra Matoviča: Nasr... som kopu ľudí. Takéto dni mám rád" [A message to the world from Prime Minister Matovič: I made people mad. I like such days.]. Pravda (in Slovak). 19 August 2020.
- ^ Holka, Marek (11 November 2020). ""Bude po nociach kopať hroby?" Matovič kritizuje Sulíka, ponúka mu riadenie koronakrízy" ["Will he dig graves at night?" Matovič criticizes Sulík, offers him to manage the corona crisis]. HN Online (in Slovak).
- ^ B., Roman (17 December 2020). "Matovič vybuchol v živom vysielaní: Sulík by mal do Vianoc podať demisiu, máme idiota ministra hospodárstva" [Matovič exploded on live broadcast: Sulík should resign by Christmas, we have an idiot Minister of Economy]. precitaj.si (in Slovak).
- ^ Černická, Lívia (1 August 2021). "Matovičova očkovacia lotéria. Aké jednoduché je všetko skomplikovať" [Matovič's vaccination lottery. How easy it is to complicate everything?]. Pravda (in Slovak).
- ^ Mikušovič, Dušan (8 September 2021). "Za ľudí sa rozpadli. Sulík trvá na tom, aby Kolíková bola ministerkou, Remišovej krídlo hovorí o prechode k neoliberálom (+video)" [For the People fell apart. Sulík insists that Kolíková be a minister, Remišová's wing talks about transitioning to neoliberals (with video).]. Denník N (in Slovak). Bratislava: N Press.
- ^ "Politici reagujú na hlasovanie o Ficovi. Podľa Sulíka je to najväčšia prehra Matoviča" [Reactions on Fico's failed votes: According to Sulík, this is Matovič's biggest loss.]. tvnoviny.sk (in Slovak). 4 May 2022.
- ^ Cebrová, Linda (24 April 2022). "Prieskum dôveryhodnosti členov vlády ukázal nečakané výsledky. Matovič je na chvoste". startitup.sk (in Slovak).
- ^ "Poslanci parlamentu opätovne odhlasovali prorodinný balíček pomoci za 1,2 miliardy eur". FinReport (in Slovak). 22 June 2022.
- ^ "Predseda SaS Richard Sulík: Vracia sa k bývalej žene?". Nový čas (in Slovak). 23 June 2010.