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| - Slovakia's Economy Minister resigned on Monday, saying he wanted to end a crisis in the four-party coalition government as the country struggles to bring down one of the world's highest Covid-19 mortality rates. "I am resigning as Minister of Economy. I believe that this step will contribute to the reconstruction of the government," SaS party leader Richard Sulik, who is also deputy prime minister, told journalists. SaS and Za Ludi, two of the coalition parties, have demanded that Prime Minister Igor Matovic step down, accusing him of mishandling the coronavirus crisis. "It is now the turn of PM Igor Matovic to resign, effectively bringing down the current government and opening the way to a new cabinet," Sulik said. Matovic on Sunday said he was willing to step down to save the coalition government led by his OLaNO party but has said he wants to stay in the cabinet as a minister -- a condition Sulik has rejected. SaS said its remaining two ministers will also quit the government unless Matovic steps down. The political crisis comes as Slovakia, a eurozone country of 5.4 million people, is faced with the world's third highest per capita rate of Covid deaths and infections, according to an AFP tally. Opinion polls published on Sunday suggested that more than 80 percent of Slovaks want Matovic to resign. OLaNO party member Eduard Heger, the current finance minister and acting health minister, has been floated as a possible candidate to replace him. President Zuzana Caputova said she will accept Economy Minister Sulik's resignation on Tuesday. juh/dt/pvh
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