The preparatory committee of a new political grouping calling itself the Real Slovak National Party applied for registry with the Interior Ministry September 21, drawing the threat of legal action from the opposition Slovak National Party (SNS).
The application came only a week after six senior party members were ejected from the ranks of the SNS, including former SNS boss Ján Slota. The six were thrown out apparently for their open opposition to current party leader Anna Malíková.
Slota, the apparent ringleader of the Real SNS, said after submitting the application that the party's founding congress would be held October 6, when the party would select its candidates to December 1 regional elections.
Malíková and Slota have been in conflict since 1999 when Slota, after several scandals involving alleged drunken behaviour, was replaced as leader of the party. He has recently referred to her as "my biggest mistake" and "a mad cow".
The SNS leader has said that Slota's new party "has neither the legal or moral right" to use the name of the Slovak National Party.
