| Cabinet Name: | Cabinet of Eduard Heger |
| Flag: | Coat of arms of Slovakia.svg |
| Flag Border: | false |
| Cabinet Number: | 12th |
| Jurisdiction: | Slovakia |
| Date Formed: | 1 April 2021 |
| Date Dissolved: | 15 May 2023 |
| State Head Title: | President of Slovakia |
| State Head: | Zuzana Čaputová |
| Government Head Title: | Prime Minister |
| Government Head: | Eduard Heger |
| Deputy Government Head Title: | Deputy Prime Ministers |
| Members Number: | 16 |
| Total Number: | 21 |
| Previous: | Matovič's Cabinet |
| Opposition Leader: | Robert Fico |
The Cabinet of Eduard Heger was the 12th government of Slovakia, led by Prime Minister Eduard Heger.
It was originally a four-party majority coalition government composed of Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OĽaNO), We Are Family, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) and For the People. Following a coalition crisis in summer 2022, SaS left the government, which resulted in a minority government.
The Cabinet was appointed by the President of Slovakia Zuzana Čaputová on 1 April 2021 and was approved by the National Council on 4 May 2021.[1] [2] It was formed after the previous Prime Minister Igor Matovič and his government had resigned, ending a month-long coalition crisis which started because of a controversial Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine purchase by Matovič. It was essentially a reshuffle during which Matovič changed positions with his party subordinate Heger, previously Minister of Finance. Significant changes included the appointment of Vladimír Lengvarský as Minister of Health and President Čaputová rejecting the initial We Are Family nominee for Labour Minister Jozef Hlinka, which resulted in the reappointment of Milan Krajniak.[3]
The Cabinet lost a no-confidence vote on 15 December 2022 and ruled until it was succeeded by a caretaker government composed of non-party experts led by Ľudovít Ódor on 15 May 2023.[4] [5]
Following the breaking of her veto, President Zuzana Čaputová asked the Supreme Court to examine the bill's compliance with the law and to render it ineffective, stating the reasons she had previously articulated. The Supreme Court later confirmed that parts of the bill were, in fact, unlawful, and that the use of the shortened legislative process was not warranted.[6]
The main reason for leaving the coalition and the ultimatum that was cited by SaS were the actions of Igor Matovič as Minister of Finance. They cited Matovič's breaking of the President's veto of the "pro-family package" with the help of MPs from the far-right, Neo-Nazi ĽSNS party (it was unacceptable for SaS that the government be aided by these far-right MPs when passing laws). SaS stated that since Heger failed to intervene and solve these issues, they decided to take this step.[7]
OĽaNO MP and chair of the parliamentary defence Juraj Krúpa announced his departure from the party and joinedof the SaS parliamentary caucus. He also became the team leader for defense within SaS. Krúpa was the only OĽaNO MP who did not vote for the "pro-family package" bill.[8] On 11 August, OĽaNO announced that the party leadership along with their parliamentary caucus decided that Matovič would remain Minister of Finance even after the ultimatum by SaS ended.[9]
Three official meetings of the former coalition leaders from all four parties took place in the government's Hotel Bôrik. SaS consistently refused to retract its ultimatum, but Richard Sulík clarified that if OĽaNO suggested he step down as a price for Matovič's resignation, he would be willing to do so.[10] On 31 August, the last day of the ultimatum, OĽaNO announced that Matovič could resign if SaS agrees to ten proposals by OĽaNO. These included various policies which SaS disagreed with long-term such as tax raises, support for some form of the "pro-family package", and a point which said that SaS ministers or MPs would not be able to propose new laws requiring public spending without proposing the resources which should be used to cover these new expenses.[11]
However, the ten-point proposal by OĽaNO was rejected by SaS and Sulík announced that he had already made the President aware of his resignation as Minister of Economy earlier that day. SaS further stated that Matovič had until 5 September to resign or else the resignation of the remaining three ministers for SaS would follow.[12]
In September, the parliamentary caucus of We Are Family was joined by three independent MPs, among them a former ĽSNS MP Jozef Šimko.[13]
Since OĽaNO decided that Igor Matovič would remain, Korčok, Kolíková, and Gröhling announced their resignation on 5 September and President Zuzana Čaputová accepted their resignation on 13 September. She appointed cross-party nominees Rastislav Káčer as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Viliam Karas as Minister of Justice, and Karel Hirman as Minister of Economy. PM Heger was appointed Interim Minister of Education until the appointment of Ján Horecký on 4 October.[14]
After the government lost its majority, SaS, now an opposition party, initiated a motion of no-confidence in Matovič. He spoke in his own defenceand attacked the media in his speech. In response, an open letter condemning these attacks was issued by the representatives of the most prominent Slovak media outlets. Several international press organizations also condemned the attacks.[15]
Following the vote, SaS pointed out that Matovič was not removed only because of the three opposition MPs (who ran for ĽSNS) did not vote in favor of the motion, even though previously these MPs consistently voted in favor of no-confidence motions concerning ministers of Heger and Matovič's cabinets.[16] [17]
After Martin Klus left the SaS parliamentary caucus,[18] OĽANO parliamentary caucus chairman Michal Šipoš postponed an gremium meeting between the party members. Matovič went to the Presidential Palace, signed his resignation and handed it to the President's Chief of Staff who then passed it onto his assistant in order to make a copy. When the assistant returned the original and the copy of the resignation to the Chief of Staff, Matovič took both documents from his hands, said he changed his mind, and left.[19]
Following the vote of no-confidence, President Čaputová formally dismissed the Cabinet of Eduard Heger, and appointed it as interim government with restricted powers.[20] Ten OĽANO MPs from the Civic and Democratic Platform who were advocating for a cabinet reshuffle left the OĽANO parliamentary caucus, reasoning they no longer had impact on the decisions of OĽANO.[21] On 22 December, the parliament passed the 2023 budget with a deficit of €8 billion. SaS supported the budget after several of its proposals were worked in following negotiations with prime minister Heger. These included expenditure limits, cancellation of concession fees to fund the state TV and radio as well as a lowered 10% tax on hospitality and sports venues services.[22]
After Matovič resigned as Minister of Finance, President Čaputová removed him from the office and appointed Heger as Interim Minister of Finance on 23 December.[23] Upon being removed from the office, Matovič shared multiple posts using his Facebook profile centered around LGBT issues to attack the Slovak mainstream news media. Heger criticised Matovič, and both admitted that the departures of Heger and Minister of Defence Jaroslav Naď from OĽANO were likely in the close future.[24]
On 9 January 2023, Eduard Heger announced that he would attempt to form a new government supported by a parliamentary majority.[25] Heger later announced his attempts to form a new majority ended.[26] A parliamentary majority voted for an early election that occurred on 30 September 2023.[27]
Heger announced his departure from OĽANO on 6 March 2023, stating his different political views.[28] On 5 May, Minister of Foreign Affairs Rastislav Káčer informed the President of his request that his appointment be revoked.[29] On 1 May, Káčer later clarified that he left Democrats with the intention not to remain in politics.[30]
On 15 May 2023, President Čaputová announced that she would appoint a caretaker government which would rule until a new cabinet is formed following the early election on 30 September 2023, consisting of non-party experts led by Ľudovít Ódor.[31]