Fico Wants to Take Smer-SD into 2020 General Election as Leader

Bratislava, June 7 (TASR) – Leader of the strongest governing party Robert Fico told a news conference in Bratislava on Friday that he wants to continue to lead the party into the 2020 general election and that he’s launching a discussion within the party regarding the situation within it.

Fico sees no reason for any personnel earthquake in Smer-SD. He declined to comment on information concerning an extraordinary party congress or speculation that Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini might run for the party chairman post.

“My ambition is very clear. I want to take the Smer-SD party into the general election in 2020 in the post of party leader,” said Fico. He sees his role in preserving the party’s stability.
“I’ll do my utmost so that this party will continue to be the most stable one on the Slovak political arena,” he stated.

Fico announced that he’s launching a discussion within the party. “I want to listen to the opinions of district structures. We’ll speak about it,” he stressed, adding that he doesn’t want to comment on anything said in the media by his colleagues over the past two weeks.

“I want to find a solution that will be best for Smer. I think it would be best if some people stopped commenting on issues publicly, without coming, knocking on the door and saying that it can also be done within the party,” said Fico.

Fico stressed that a discussion is being held within Smer-SD regarding how to turn Slovakia’s “excellent results” into a good result for the party. According to him, it’s not enough to talk about social projects; there’s also a need to bring along emotions, stories and to define oneself against political rivals in a stronger way.