Smer chair Robert Fico (source: SME)
There will be no special rally or fundamental changes in Smer’s leadership. This is the possible result of a revolt from some critical members of the party's regional organisations who raised their voices following the EP and presidential elections.
The four-day tour of Smer chair Robert Fico around the party’s regional organisations makes it clear that he will lead the party at least until next year’s general election, the regional Korzár daily reported.
Some district organisations in Košice, led by former Smer MEP Monika Smolková, called on Fico and deputy chair Robert Kaliňák to leave their posts. She made the call when Fico was not in Slovakia and absent from public life.
However, she failed to receive the necessary support, and lacked the backing of those members of the party leadership close to incumbent PM Peter Pellegrini, Korzár wrote.
“An individual voice”
“Smer has been around for 20 years,” Fico said before the meeting held in the village of Malá Ida, as quoted by Korzár. “We want it to stay around for another 20 years, and this is why I’m doing all of this. I’m talking to the district structures about setting the programme so that we’re able to win elections and make Smer work as a standard, standing political party. We’re not for single use only.”
After the meeting, he admitted to certain small changes in the party’s organisation. However, nothing will change in crucial personnel matters.
Fico also called the demand for holding a special rally nonsense. He met with Smolková, calling the protest “an individual voice”.
However, he admitted that there are certain problems with communication.
“We’ll have to improve this,” Fico said, as quoted by Korzár.
Fico did not receive the support of only two Košice district councils, led by Smolková and another critic, Milan Géci, the daily wrote.
