Coalition Leaders Discussing Changes to Governing Coalition

Bratislava, August 19 (TASR) – Coalition leaders Robert Fico (Smer-SD), Andrej Danko (the Slovak National Party/SNS), Bela Bugar (Most-Hid) and Roman Brecely (Siet/Network) on Friday started to discuss changes to the governing coalition.

Bugar on Thursday announced that Siet party will be probably left out of the coalition. Most-Hid will demand the Transport, Construction and Regional Development Ministry as well as posts of state secretaries that are currently held by Siet members.

Current Transport, Construction and Regional Development Ministry State Secretary Arpad Ersek (Most-Hid) has often been mentioned as a potential successor of Brecely at the post of the minister. Bugar has refused to comment that for now. “We will make a statement after the meeting,” said Bugar, adding that he would like a person that really understands the problems of this department to become minister. Ersek was the transport ministry state secretary during Iveta Radicova’s government (2010-12).

The meeting of the Coalition Council was prompted by the departure of Siet MPs Andrej Hrnciar, Martin Fedor, Katarina Csefalvayova, Igor Janckulik and Eduard Adamcik from the party and their admission to the Most-Hid caucus. Most-Hid now has 15 MPs, just like SNS, while Siet was left with only two – Alena Basistova and Radoslav Prochazka.