Bratislava, March 19 (CTK) – Three Slovak opposition parties that are demanding new elections as a solution to the current crisis triggered by the murder of an investigative journalist will submit a bill shortening the current election term in parliament, their representatives said in a joint statement today.
However, the three parties do not have enough votes to have the legislation passed in the parliament.
In the meantime, the coalition parties agreed on forming a new government that is to replace the cabinet of Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-Social Democracy) who resigned last week.
Fico stepped down amid a political crisis caused by the murder of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee in late February. His resignation means the fall of the whole three-party coalition government of Fico’s Smer-SD, the Slovak National Party (SNS) and Most Hid. The coalition agreed to form a new cabinet that would be headed by Peter Pellegrini (Smer-SD).
“The calls for an early election and change, which is to be brought about by it, is extremely strong in the public,” the opposition’s statement said.
“We consider an early election a legitimate solution to the current political situation which may result in chaos,” it added.
“We expect to muster the support of the required 90 votes to have the legislation passed in the parliament,” the statement said.
It was signed by the deputies for the Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), the Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OLaNO) and We Are Family-Boris Kollar movements.
The coalition parties have a majority in the 150-member parliament.
Mass rallies demanded the early election across Slovakia on Friday. The opposition would like it to be called for early September. The motion is to be debated at an extraordinary parliamentary session.