EUROPEAN Commission Vice-president Maroš Šefčovič will top the governing Smer party's slate for the European Parliament (EP) elections.
Smer will also consider Šefčovič as their candidate for the new EC line-up after the elections.
"We want politicians to be elected to the [European] Parliament first, and only then, once they've acquired this kind of legitimacy, should they seek to take up posts in the EU executive, that is the European Commission," said Smer leader Robert Fico, as quoted by the TASR newswire.
Šefčovič, who on top of being EC vice-president also holds the post of EU Commissioner for Inter-institutional Relations and Administration, said that he has often been asked about this very issue of legitimacy.
"If the European Commission is to comment on national budgets and recommend highly sensitive reforms, then it's only natural that EU citizens should demand that European Commissioners should be supported democratically first," said Šefčovič. He noted that there are a number of commissioners who have decided to run for EP seats.
Smer will decide on the rest of the party slate within the next 10 days.
Slovakia has 13 seats to fill in the European Parliament. The elections will take place on May 24.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Michaela Terenzani from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information
presented in its Flash News postings.
