THE FREE Forum (SF) party showed signs of a growing rift within its ranks as its chairwoman, Zuzana Martináková, ordered member Branislav Opaterný removed from the party's candidate list for the upcoming general elections.
Opaterný was the No 7 candidate on the SF's 150-member list. According to Martináková, the move came after the SF expelled Opaterný's brother, Rastislav, from the SF for allegedly requesting that Branislav be given various advantages after the election, including a cabinet post.
Opaterný has insisted that the allegations are false, blaming instead the head of the party's election staff, Vladislav Chlipala.
Analysts say the conflict may have a negative impact on the party's election results.