In a recent public statement, Rudolf Huliak, the Slovak Minister of Sports and Tourism from the Strana vidieka party, has openly criticized the work of government appointee Peter Kotlár, who previously collaborated with Huliak in the last parliamentary elections on the SNS candidate list. Huliak’s comments reflect a growing concern within the government regarding how COVID-19 pandemic measures were managed, reigniting the debate over the qualifications and statements made by government officials during the crisis.

Huliak publicly apologized to Bratislava physician Peter Sabak, a frontline worker in the battle against COVID-19, for earlier remarks he made about Sabak’s handling of pandemic control measures. Huliak acknowledged Sabak's vital contributions during the pandemic in a letter, thereby aligning himself with the medical community that has faced criticisms from some government officials, including Kotlár.

The Minister responded to Kotlár’s derogatory remarks about prominent Slovak scientists and doctors, whom Kotlár labeled as "charlatans, healers, and fraudsters." Huliak’s contrast to Kotlár's statements emphasizes an internal conflict within the government regarding the trust and respect for the scientific community now that their roles have become crucial in public health decisions.