In his speech, Pellegrini did not specifically comment on the individual diplomats, but emphasized that after taking office they will no longer act as politicians, but as representatives of the Slovak Republic. He also drew attention to the personal responsibility associated with the position and warned that any failures would have their consequences.
From the moment of nomination, the most attention was gained by MP Miroslav Radačovský, who entered the Slovak parliament as a substitute for Rudolf Huliak, who became the Minister of Tourism and Sports.
Radačovský is a former judge and MEP who has repeatedly come into the public eye in the past due to his statements and work in public positions. He drew criticism mainly for his controversial political positions, sharp rhetoric towards the European Union and also some decisions from the time he worked in the judiciary.
Radačovský case
- Cocaine and an illegal gun in the car
In July 1999, the police stopped Radačovský as a judge at the time during a roadside inspection in Košice and found cocaine and a weapon in his car. According to the information at the time, it was about 16 to 18 doses of cocaine and an illegally held assault or home-made bullet weapon.
The then judge claimed that he found the drugs and the gun in his son’s apartment and that he wanted to dispose of them. After protracted court cases, he was acquitted in 2012.
- Doves in the European Parliament
In April 2024, during his last appearance in the European Parliament, Radačovský brought a white dove hidden in a bag to the plenary hall. During a speech about the “need for peace in Europe”, he released it directly in the meeting hall, saying that it should symbolize peace for Europe, Russians and Ukrainians.
- Threats to the European Union and the West
As an MEP, he also became famous for his strongly pro-Russian speech, in which he warned that “Slavs will unite and turn Western Europe into a lawn”. In the same speech, he called for a halt to the supply of weapons to Ukraine, accused the US of starting the war, and called the European Union a “vassal” of the United States.
His career was also accompanied by disciplinary proceedings and controversies about his professional activities, which have long made him a polarizing figure on the Slovak public scene. That is why his transfer to the diplomatic service raises questions about how Slovakia will be represented abroad.
However, Pellegrini stressed that he expects professional performance and strengthening of relations with the countries where they will operate from all the newly appointed. At the end, the president noted that the work of the ambassadors will not be evaluated according to media outputs, but by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In addition to Radačovský, the president also appointed Petr Kmec as ambassador to Rome. Ľubomír Rehák is heading to Kazakhstan, and Jozef Hudec, who will represent Slovakia in other countries of the region, is heading to Egypt. The embassy in Ethiopia will be headed by Rastislav Križan.
