Delegates to the second congress of the Social Democratic Alliance (SDA) in Zvolen on Saturday approved a merger with the Smer party, led by Robert Fico, the TASR news wire wrote.
"Our goal is to support the formation of a powerful social-democratic party, which Slovakia needs as a counterweight to the current right-wing policymakers," SDA chairman Milan Ftáčnik said. "Such a party is possible under Smer, which has already changed its name to Smer - Sociálna Demokracia."
Ftáčnik said he could hardly imagine a strong social democratic party in Slovakia that lacked participation by Smer. He denied that the merger represents an effort by SDA to gain political posts.
A conference is planned for the first half of 2005 between Smer and SDA to work out details of the merger. It should, Ftacnik said, produce a comprehensive social-democratic platform.
SDA has 800 registered members. It has no representatives in parliament.
Compiled by Marta Ďurianová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information
presented in its Flash News postings.
