Rasi: We Won't Trade Post of Parliamentary Chair for Something Else

Bratislava, April 17 (TASR) - The coalition Voice-SD party won't trade the chair of parliamentary head for something else, Investments and Informatisation Minister Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) said before the government meeting on Wednesday, adding that the coalition agreement is valid on the basis of the results of the parliamentary election. "We don't see a single reason for this to change in any way," said Rasi, who is expected to become the new head of parliament after Peter Pellegrini (Voice-SD) was elected president. According to Rasi, his election to the post of House chair will take place after the June European Parliament elections and the inauguration of the president. "To get there, someone would have to elect me and [Slovak National Party chair] Andrej Danko seems to have a different opinion," said Rasi, adding that his election would therefore depend on Danko's result in the EP elections. If the result is positive for Danko, it will still depend on his decision whether he'll enter the European Parliament. The premier said over the weekend that the 'trio' including President Pellegrini, himself as premier and Slovak National Party (SNS) leader Andrej Danko as head of Parliament would point to the stability of the governing coalition. He described this as his political opinion, as he respects the fact that the post belongs to Voice-SD according to the valid coalition agreement. Voice-SD responded that it doesn't share Fico's opinion. Labour Minister and party vice-chairman Erik Tomas said that Investments Minister Richard Rasi will be Voice-SD party's nominee for the post of parliamentary chair. Danko said after the presidential election that SNS is ready to talk about the conditions for the future functioning of the coalition because the political map is fundamentally changing after the presidential election. am/mcs