Sovereignty bill fails by two votes

A BILL put forward by the ruling coalition Christian Democrats that would guarantee the sovereignty of the Slovak state, particularly in answer to Hungary's Status Law for Hungarians living abroad, failed to pass to second reading in Parliament April 10 by two votes. Of the 128 members of parliament present in the 150-seat chamber, 63 voted in favour, 41 against, and 21 MPs abstained. It had been feared the bill, if passed, would drive a major wedge between the Christian Democrats and their ruling coalition partners, the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK).