A PRESIDIUM of the ruling Smer party has approved the slate for the elections to the European Parliament. It will be led by Maroš Šefčovič, whom the party nominated in February, followed by current Smer MEPs, Monika Flašíková-Beňová, Monika Smolková, Vladimír Maňka, Boris Zala, Katarína Neveďalová and Gabriela Kečkéšová, the last of whom currently works in Šefčovič’s team.
If elected, Šefčovič would give up his mandate in the EP and become a member of the European Commission instead, the SITA newswire reported on March 10. According to Smer chairman Robert Fico, it is right when members of the EC win the support of voters also in elections, which in fact increases the legitimacy of the EC.
The party has not however confirmed the nominations yet, saying that it will introduce the whole slate next week, Smer spokesperson Monika Počátková told SITA.
The EP elections in Slovakia will take place on May 24. In the last elections held in 2009 Slovakia chose 13 MEPs, five of whom are from Smer.
The turnout in the last elections was low: only 19.64 percent.
The parties have to publish the complete slates by March 20.
Source: SITA
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
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