BRATISLAVA, October 16, (WEBNOVINY) – The meeting of representatives of the opposition SMER-SD party and member of the ruling coalition SDKU-DS, at which they agreed upon early parliamentary elections and ratification of the eurozone bailout fund showed, according to SMER-SD leader Robert Fico, that they are able to discuss significant topics, he said in Sunday’s political debate problem of TV Markiza titled Na Telo. This is a major step ahead, Fico commented.
The opposition leader stressed that it is hard for a political party in Slovakia to win enough support to be able to form a government by itself; therefore parties will have to form coalitions. Fico opines that the rule of one party is very dangerous; he thus considers it good if there is at least a two-member coalition.
Deputy leader of the SDKU-DS party Ivan Miklos does not see co-governing with SMER-SD as a realistic option. He reminded that the party’s congress approved a document that states that they will not cooperate with SMER-SD in the current election term or after next parliamentary elections. He cannot imagine a cooperation with former coalition partner SaS led by Richard Sulik, either. According to Miklos, parties offering real solutions and populist parties are standing against each other at present. Similarly as Fico, Miklos opines that the current government should lead the country until the early elections in March 2012. He opines that appointing a caretaker government for four months would be pointless. Miklos confirmed that SDKU-DS leader Mikulas Dzurinda met with SaS leader Richard Sulik on Friday, but did not want to specify what they talked about.
Fico is convinced that at Monday’s meeting with President Ivan Gasparovic, parliamentary parties will find a solution so that no new government needs to be formed. If the Cabinet of Iveta Radicova was to continue until the early elections, a model of operation without SaS ministers would also possible, Fico said. “A solution can be found; I will offer it to Mr. president tomorrow [on Monday – editor’s note],” Fico stated.
SaS leader Richard Sulik, cooperation with whom representatives of the SDKU-DS, MOST-HID and KDH can no longer imagine, is happy that his party did not change opinions in a fundamental issue. He restated he sees no reason why he and his ministers have to leave the Cabinet. Sulik does not see a reason to support his former center-right partners, either. SaS will, however, support the draft state budget for next year with certain conditions. Sulik opines that SDKU-DS is preparing for a future coalition with SMER-SD. He concluded by saying that they are able to communicate with former coalition partners and agree on certain matters. He refused to comment on his meeting with Mikulas Dzurinda last Friday.
SITAaCCORDI