BRATISLAVA, January 8, (WEBNOVINY) — The party of Mikulas Dzurinda will not govern with the opposition SMER-SD after the parliamentary elections in March. „SDKU-DS will not enter into government with the political party SMER-SD after the parliamentary elections in 2012. Our decision is permanent and binding, it is so with respect for citizens,“ said party chairman and Foreign Affairs Minister Mikulas Dzurinda at a news conference on Sunday at the party headquarters. In his words, SDKU-DS wants to focus on cooperation with its present partners in government, KDH and MOST-HID. Determining for cooperation with the neo-Liberal SaS will be how this party perceives the role of Slovakia in the euro area.
For Dzurinda, crucial for post-election cooperation will be agreement in four areas: strengthening stability of the euro area, maintaining a flat tax rate system, completing and pushing through changes in the judiciary, and the appointment of Josef Centes as Slovakia’s next general prosecutor. SDKU-DS also hopes that Slovakia will be able to strengthen its competitive potential, which it deems crucial for economic growth. It further wants to maintain or perhaps even improve the flexibility of the current wording of the Labor Code and pass bills that will reform the payroll levy system in a way that will help sole traders and the middle class. The party already has its election program ready and SDKU-DS it will consult in Modra on Thursday and subsequently present it to the public.
Although the current situation does not hint it would be possible to create a center-right government in Slovakia after the elections, Dzurinda believes it can happen. „We have been in a more difficult position more than once. When things are clear for us and we firmly want it, the chance is there. Bread is now being divided,“ he said and underlined the fact that just as citizens should not lose hope, politicians have no right to [feelings of] resignation. SDKU-DS wants to create an alternative to the government of Social Democrats and continue the work begun in 2010. „We see this as a great challenge for SDKU-DS to try in the parliamentary elections to achieve a result so that Slovakia could continue in these changes,“ he said.
The former prime minister is cautious about possible collaboration with the Ordinary People Movement of Igor Matovic. „Since this party was founded without having clear ideological footing, it rather raises doubts in me,“ he said with the addition that although he does not want to insult anybody, Slovakia already has experience with new political parties.
Dzurinda is convinced that Europe will come out from the current crisis strengthened and Slovakia should seek the possibility to draw on this future strength. In this context, he explained that the government did not merge the vote to increase the capacity of the European Financial Stability Facility with a vote of confidence without a reason, but in order to prevent that Slovakia would end up on the sidelines of the European political spectrum. He pointed to the case of Hungary now, where „for a moment they thought they do not need anyone“ and now it is a priority for our southern neighbors to negotiate assistance with the International Monetary Fund.
SITA