The debate in Slovak parliament on the country’s participation in the European Stabilisation Mechanism (ESM) lasted on Thursday, April 21 to 22:00 after Speaker of Parliament Pavol Paška (Smer) proposed to continue the debate even after the normal ending time of 19:00, the TASR newswire reported.
The ESM bailout mechanism will now be voted on Friday, June 22 at 11:00, TASR wrote. The vote should pass as all parties except for Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) and Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OľaNO) have declared support for the permanent bailout mechanism. The legislation needs 76 votes and Smer party alone has 83 votes.
The extended debate on ESM also postponed a vote on whether to oust the head of public-service Radio and Television, Miloslava Zemková. Dušan Jarjabek of Smer, chair of parliament’s media committee, has proposed her recall. This vote is also expected to be held on Friday, June 22.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
