A COALITION between Smer, the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK) and the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) would not benefit the conservative Christian Democrats, according to KDH Deputy Chairman Daniel Lipšic, because the socialist Smer would still be able to approve legislation in parliament with the help of the far-right Slovak National Party (SNS) and the ostracized Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS).
Lipšic said last night on a talk show on Markíza TV that in terms of political programs, a right-wing coalition between the SMK, the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), and the KDH with the support of the opposition HZDS would in his view be the most consistent with his party's aims.
However, Lipšic added, the problem with such a coalition would be HZDS Chairman Vladimír Mečiar and his past deeds in connection with the kidnapping of the former president's son, Michal Kováč Jr.
"Should Vladimír Mečiar find the strength to make a statesmanlike gesture for Slovakia, and should the HZDS agree to help justice in Slovakia by canceling the amnesties [that Mečiar issued to protect those involved in the kidnapping], then I think it would be a completely different situation," Lipšic said.
The KDH has also rejected cooperation with the SNS, whom it regards as equally as unacceptable as the current unreformed HZDS.
Lipšic added that he considers a possible coalition between Smer, the HZDS and SNS as the worst possible for Slovakia, one that "in my opinion would harm Slovakia economically and socially, in the area of security as well as justice".
The KDH's rejection of the SNS eliminated the Smer-KDH-SNS coalition option, leaving only three possibilities: Smer-HZDS-SNS, Smer-KDH-SMK, and Smer-SDKÚ. According to the Pravda daily, the latter option is increasingly being discussed in backroom talks.
