Four prominent former members of the opposition Christian-Democratic Movement (KDH), are setting up a new political party, according to the SITA newswire. It will be known as the Conservative Democrats of Slovakia (KDS). MPs Vladimír Palko, Pavol Minárik, František Mikloško and Rudolf Bauer left the KDH at the end of February, saying it was no longer possible to renew the party and that it would be pointless to remain members.
On March 12 they were to begin a petition to collect the 10,000 signatures required to register a political party. They will decide on a leader once registration at the Interior Ministry has been completed. Vladimir Palko is acting as spokesperson of the new party’s preparatory committee. The MPs told a news conference on Wednesday, that the main principles of the KDS will be respect for traditional values, patriotism enriched by all the values which cooperation and coexistence with other nations and cultures bring, and a new government economic policy towards the family. "Our conservatism supports economic freedom, but it will be compassionate conservatism: compassion for the weak and those who need help," Palko said. The party will be open to all Christians and people who respect the values of the party, he added.
Palko also emphasized that they would not try to break up any of the other political parties. "We have not made any calls on KDH members to follow our example," he said, while adding that the KDS was sending a clear signal to people dissatisfied with the politics of the current opposition parties, to whom the KDS’s doors are open. SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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