The return of Vladimír Mečiar to politics after his heart surgery happened exactly as expected: no one knew where he was, not even his closest party colleagues. Mečiar will likely continue to be less visible, as always when there are problems or conflicts in the HZDS. After a long period of calm, he again faces a small rebellion within the party. MP Tibor Mikuš has broken a long-time taboo: he has said he wants Mečiar to turn the chairmanship of the HZDS over to MP Viliam Veteška. Both of them hope that more HZDS district organizations will support them, and force Mečiar to back down from his plan of launching regional purges within the party.
Mečiar, meanwhile, is keeping quiet, as he always does before he delivers a blow. In this case, he has to deliver one whether he wants to or not, for as the old adage goes, a king is only a king for as long as he is able to put down any rebels.
Pravda, April 17
Author: Dag Daniš
