IN THE AFTERMATH of the run-off of the regional governor election in Banská Bystrica, which saw extremist Marian Kotleba rise to the post, the ethnic-Hungarian Party of Hungarian Communities (SMK), which holds five posts in the newly elected regional council, announced they will boycott Kotleba, the TASR newswire reported.
The ruling Smer party has the decisive voice in the Banská Bystrica regional council, as it holds 25 posts out of 49. Smer representatives however did not make clear immediately after the election whether or not they would boycott Kotleba, the Sme daily reported.
“I cannot imagine that Kotleba will find among the councillors someone who would serve as his deputy,” one Smer councillor, who did not wish to be named, told Sme. “If he finds someone, there is still the vote of the council. He will probably function without a deputy.”
Passing the regional budget might prove to be even more challenging, since it is submitted by the governor but must be passed by the council, which can however only make small changes to it. The region might work with a provisional budget, but not forever, Smer councillors told Sme, adding that this might result in the halting of EU funds for the region.
Some councillors have hinted that the council might curb Kotleba’s powers in the governor’s post, Sme wrote.
Kotleba said the councillors will be held accountable for their decisions, and added that he refuses to cooperate with the current parliamentary parties, describing them as a 'political mafia'.
Source: TASR, Sme
Compiled by Michaela Terenzani from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
