Fico Delivers Coalition Agreement to President Kiska

Bratislava, March 17 (TASR) – Prime Minister and Smer-SD leader Robert Fico on Thursday delivered the agreement between four political parties – Smer, the Slovak National Party (SNS), Most-Hid and Siet – to form a governing coalition to President Andrej Kiska.

The parties have already presented their programme priorities as the basis for a new Government Manifesto and have redistributed the leading posts in parliament and government. Fico didn’t make any comments to the press, stating that he’ll do so only after the end of Thursday’s negotiations between the aforementioned parties at the Government Office.

Fico has been commissioned by Kiska to try to create a government by this Friday. The premier is departing for a two-day EU summit in Brussels later on Thursday, however. If Kiska appoints Fico as the new prime minister, the latter will present the head of state with nominations for specific ministerial posts.

“The leader of Smer-SD, the party that won the most votes in the general election, told the president that he had reached an agreement with three partners in an effort to create a governing coalition. Based on this information and in line with the Slovak Constitution, the president will convene the inaugural session of parliament for March 23,” said Martin Liptak from the President’s Office press department.

The newly elected legislators will swear an oath prescribed by the Constitution, thereby officially taking up their mandates. The plenary will elect the leaders of parliament and of the parliamentary committees.

After this inaugural session, the outgoing single-party Government will hand in its resignation to Kiska, who, in turn, will appoint the new government with Fico at the head of a coalition made up of Smer, the Slovak National Party, Most-Hid and Siet. The new government will then have 30 days to present its manifesto in parliament, which has to be approved by a simple majority.