Chair of European Affairs Committee leaves coalition over Sputnik V

MP Tomáš Valášek (For the People) has decided to leave the governing coalition and resign as the House European Affairs Committee chair over the circumstances surrounding the procurement of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, the TASR press agency reported on Monday. In Valášek's view, instead of assuming responsibility and remedying the moribund fight against the pandemic, Prime Minister Igor Matovič (OLaNO) opted to "pursue the uncertified Russian vaccine." Valášek also took potshots at Health Minister Marek Krajči (OLaNO), who Valášek believes should step down at once. The purchase of the Russian vaccine, which is not authorized for use by the EU's medicine agency, is a "spit in the face" of Slovakia's European partners and undermines public trust in vaccination, thinks Valášek.