criticised Cernak‘s performance since he was appointed after elections last year. Particular concerns were voiced over the long delayed re-privatisation of gas storage company Nafta Gbely, a lack of transparency in public tenders and a scandal surrounding state participation in Priemyselna Banka. „I am seriously considering whether it has any point (continuing)…the answer to this question will be given by the competent organs,“ he said when asked about rumours he would resign. The minister said he had become a whipping boy for problems which were not of his making, and added that his accomplishments had not been fully recognised. Analysts say Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda has been reluctant to get rid of Cernak who is widely seen as one of the premier‘s closest party allies in government.