The long-time former leader of the Slovak National Party (SNS), Ján Slota, was expelled from the party conclusively and lawfully, party spokesperson Zuzana Kohútková said on July 25, as quoted by the TASR newswire, in response to reports that Slota is appealing against his exclusion.
Slota was stripped of his party membership on April 24 this year due to alleged misuse of party property. The proposal was supported by a two-thirds majority of the SNS presidium. “Someone who dismisses must also have a reason to dismiss,” Slota said then, adding that “there is no such reason”.
Andrej Danko, who replaced Slota as party leader, said on April 22 that Slota had promised financial aid to the party in exchange for having his powers as an honorary chairman strengthened. In response, Danko said that he did not want to be “backed up against the wall like this”.
Slota has now appealed the verdict and his appeal should be handled by a three-member arbitration committee, several sources told SITA. Slota was unavailable for comment. Even if Slota succeeds in his appeal, he might still lose his membership anyway – SNS membership lapses automatically for anyone convicted of a deliberate crime, and Slota is currently charged with drunk-driving. In May, he was caught driving under the influence in Čadca and the local district court is slated to rule on his case.
Sources: TASR, SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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