Radičová calls on Sulík to resign

Prime Minister Iveta Radičová has called on Speaker of Parliament Richard Sulík, whose Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party yesterday refused to vote in favour of the changes to the EFSF eurozone bailout mechanism and thereby caused the fall of Radičová’s government, to “be a man and resign” his post. She was speaking immediately after the failed vote in parliament that took place on October 11, the TASR newswire reported.

Prime Minister Iveta Radičová has called on Speaker of Parliament Richard Sulík, whose Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party yesterday refused to vote in favour of the changes to the EFSF eurozone bailout mechanism and thereby caused the fall of Radičová’s government, to “be a man and resign” his post. She was speaking immediately after the failed vote in parliament that took place on October 11, the TASR newswire reported.

“Maybe I will give him a bit of my power so that he has enough power to do it [i.e. resign],” Radičová said, as quoted by TASR, adding that all ministers nominated by SaS should also leave their posts.

Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) leader Ján Figeľ added that SaS had violated the coalition agreement by deciding not to vote for the changes to the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF). He said that by doing so SaS had joined the extremist parties, the SITA newswire reported.

After the failed vote, Radičová called on the leaders of the remaining three coalition parties to start negotiations with opposition Smer party leader, Robert Fico, to secure his support in a repeat vote on the EFSF, TASR wrote.

Radičová also said that her decision to make the EFSF vote a confidence vote was a result of the careful consideration of several possibilities.

“Do you know what was the main point of view that I was thinking about?” Radičová said, as quoted by TASR. “[I was thinking about] how to erase the titles in foreign media that are shattering and bad and that are decreasing the credibility of Slovakia. It was the main reason of my consideration, to stop it.”

Radičová could not say what she would do next. She would not say whether or not she intends return to parliament as a MP for the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ). She stressed that she was aware of her responsibility and that she will have to decide what to do.

Meanwhile, Fico announced that he is prepared for negotiations over the EFSF. Yet, he stressed that the government has to bear responsibility for failing to fulfil its international commitment to pass the changes to the bailout mechanism.

“The government failed to bear it [the international responsibility] and the fact that Prime Minister Iveta Radičová, together with the rest of the ruling coalition, did not ensure the ratification of changes to EFSF caused international shame to Slovakia,” said Fico, as quoted by TASR. MPs from his Smer party, which says it supports the EFSF changes, refused to vote in favour in order to bring down the government.

Source: TASR, SITA

Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.

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