BRATISLAVA, October 11, (WEBNOVINY) – Members of parliament for the junior coalition party SaS will not attend the parliamentary vote on changes to the European bailout fund. Its leader Richard Sulik said that they do not agree with the prime minister’s intention to connect the issue that is at odds with the government program statement with a vote of confidence in the Cabinet. „We consider it inappropriate pressure to which we are not going to yield, “ Sulik stated on Tuesday in presence of all liberal deputies. Sulik sees the connected ballot as a step towards return of Robert Fico to power and a definitive end to hopes that the opposition might vote in favor of the bailout fund. „Robert Fico’s comeback is possible only with support of a coalition partner,“ he added.
Four MPs from the Ordinary People movement have said that they will not attend the parliamentary ballot later on Tuesday on the enhanced bailout fund either. MPs for SMER-SD plan to register for the ballot but they will not vote. It means that the plenum will be quorate but without SaS and Ordinary People votes the enhanced bailout fund will not win the necessary support and the Cabinet will not survive the confidence vote. The ruling coalition needs at least 76 votes to pass the bailout fund and win the confidence vote.
SITA has the information that at its brief session this morning the Cabinet has approved the proposal of Prime Minister Iveta Radicova to merge the parliamentary vote on the enhanced European bailout fund with a vote of confidence in her Cabinet. However, journalists got no official information yet. Media were told that they would obtain an additional press release later.
SITA