l-r: Radoslav Procházka, Andrej Danko, Robert Fico and Béla Bugár (source: SME)
Robert Fico of Smer, Andrej Danko of the Slovak National Party (SNS), Béla Bugár of Most-Híd and Radoslav Procházka of Sieť signed a coalition agreement on March 22 at Bratislava Castle.
In his speech, incumbent Prime Minister Robert Fico reminded of the attacks in Brussels, adding that only strong and stable governments can respond to terrorism.
“If we want Slovakia to prosper, we need elementary safety and peace in the country,” Fico said, as quoted by the SITA newswire. He stressed he does not ask for support, but respect. “I ask for respect as there is no other alternative, only the alternative of chaos.”
The four coalition partners followed standard democratic principles when forming the government, the PM continued.
“I will do everything for the government to be graced by responsibility, understanding and compromises,” Fico added, as quoted by SITA.
SNS chair Danko said he is fulfilling his dream, to return the oldest political party back to the top political game. He described the government as the government of compromises where everybody forgot about their egos. Though people expressed their disagreement with establishment in the elections, they do not want people who carry weapons to the parliament to rule the country, Danko added, as reported by SITA.
Bugár of Most-Híd described the government as the most unexpected one and stressed that the parties start ruling during very hard times.
“Slovakia is changing and I am not sure whether it is for better,” Bugár said, as quoted by SITA, adding that thus the country needs a stable and predictable government.
The presence of Most-Híd in the new cabinet should bring the change in managing the country in favour of all people, Bugár stressed.
Procházka assumes that the priority of the new government should be to return trust in people that the state does not have to be a reason for worries, but a provider of quality services. He stressed that the cabinet should work in favour of all, despite their political attitudes, as reported by SITA.
Based on the agreement, Smer will have eight ministers in the new cabinet, while SNS will have three, Most-Híd two and Sieť one. Moreover, Smer will nominate one state secretary at every ministry. Most-Híd and SNS will have five state secretaries, Sieť three.
The parties also agreed on their programme priorities for 2016-2020.
