Beblavy's Party Seeks Registration, Submits over 18,000 Signatures

Bratislava, January 11 (TASR) – Fledging party Together-Civic Democracy (SPOLU) has applied for registration, with its founders handing over 18,000 signatures in support of this at the Interior Ministry on Thursday.

At least 10,000 signatures are required to register a party. If the party is registered, its founder Miroslav Beblavy will run for the post of chairman.At least 10,000 signatures are required to register a party. If the party is registered, its founder Miroslav Beblavy will run for the post of chairman.

The founders of the party also include non-affiliated MPs Jozef Mihal, Katarina Machackova, Simona Petrik, Viera Dubacova and Oto Zarnay. “The goal is for people in Slovakia no longer to have to choose the lesser evil,” said Beblavy. He ruled out cooperating with the far-right Opposition People’s Party Our Slovakia (LSNS) and the governing Smer-SD, but he can imagine collaboration with other parliamentary parties, even though the Slovak National Party (SNS) with Andrej Danko is problematic for him and he’s also rather sceptical about the We Are Family movement. He also views the non-parliamentary Progressive Slovakia party as a partner.

Together is supposed to be an expert party for people who want to make Slovakia a good country. It wants a strong and modern economy, better health care, quality education, a clear pro-European orientation for Slovakia and for everyone to be treated equally. Beblavy’s team aims to prepare a programme theses this year along with 50 major draft laws that will be submitted to Parliament.

In terms of funding, Together has an expected budget of €500,000 for elections, one third of which should be collected from the founders, one third from small donors and a third from medium-sized and large donors.