THE BANSKÁ Bystrica regional branch of the HZDS opposition party on October 8 voted against the calling of a special party congress to decide the fate of HZDS leader Vladimír Mečiar, giving Mečiar a reprieve from attacks on his position.
The decision followed a similar one by the regional party branch in Košice the day before not to support a congress to decide Mečiar's future as leader following the HZDS's worst-ever election result in September.
However, with the Prešov HZDS branch supporting the congress, along with the Bratislava and Trnava branches, the three-time former prime minister is likely to face a major challenge at a HZDS summit following municipal elections in December.
According to party statutes, a minimum of three regional branches must support the calling of an extraodinary meeting.
