Current Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) vice-chairman Viliam Veteška's chances of taking over the leadership from current Chairman Vladimír Mečiar are slim, political analysts Grigorij Mesežnikov and Miroslav Kusý said on April 18.
The analysts further agreed that if Veteška were to win the leadership election, the HZDS would split into several factions. His bid for the chairman's post may actually be a cover designed to show that the party really is democratic.
Veteška announced on April 17 that he has decided to accept the nomination of two district party organizations and run for the post of chairman at the party congress in June.
If he goes through with his plans, Veteška will become Mečiar’s second challenger (after Milan Kňažko in 1993) for the highest post in the party in all its 16-year history.
Mesežnikov said that if Veteška became leader, he could help attract new and younger voters to the HZDS. If he loses the election, he could still continue as the HZDS’ vice-chairman but his position in the party would be weakened.
HZDS MP Katarína Tóthová said on April 18 that she regarded Veteška’s candidacy as the proof of the party's internal democracy.
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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