Slovak MP Milan Urbáni, who until recently represented the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS), has been stripped of his positions as chairman of the parliamentary Committee for European Affairs and reserve member of Slovakia’s Permanent Parliamentary Delegation to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly. He was recalled from the posts by the Slovak Parliament on December 9.
On the same day, HZDS MP Ján Kovarčík was elected to fill Urbáni’s former role as chairman in a secret vote by parliament. Kovarčík was also appointed a member of the Permanent Parliamentary delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The proposal to make the changes was submitted by HZDS leader Vladimír Mečiar after Urbáni was stripped of his HZDS party membership on Saturday, December 5. The MP was ejected from the party for his links to another political grouping, the European Democratic Party, a multi-national faction in the European Parliament. HZDS party vice-chairman Jozef Habaník said such “dual-party practices” are “not acceptable” for the HZDS.
In a speech in Parliament before he was recalled from his posts, Urbáni thanked parliament for having the European affairs committee, which, according to him, functions very well. He also said that he is actually happy about the fact that because he is no longer a HZDS member he can freely express what he really thinks. He added in comments to the TASR newswire that he sees no reason to step down as an MP.
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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