The prime minister, Robert Fico, has suggested that he would prefer to lead a two-party coalition into government after the 2010 election.
He said that the fewer parties in government the better. The present governing coalition comprises three parties. Fico added that his Smer party would aim for fewer governing partners but told the SITA newswire that he did not regret his choice of partners following the 2006 election.
Regarding next year's presidential race, Fico said that the ruling coalition had to accommodate differing attitudes to the current head of state, Ivan Gašparovič, and not let them burden relations between Smer and the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS). Fico said it would be illogical for the presidential election to serve as a reason for conflict but that he expects the HZDS to strongly oppose the current president while Smer continues to support his re-election. SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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