Monitor: PS Plans to Run Independently in Election, No Plans for Alliances

(JOJ 24,'Politika 24', May 18) Speaking on JOJ 24's discussion programme 'Politika 24' (Politics 24) on Sunday, opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) leader Michal Simecka said his party intends to run independently in the next general election and does not plan to form alliances with other parties, adding that while it is important to ensure opposition votes are not wasted, this is not a question for PS but the responsibility of parties whose support in opinion polls is close to the electoral threshold. "I believe it's primarily the responsibility of political parties that are polling around five percent and therefore risk their votes not counting. It's mainly their responsibility to address this. We in PS will be supportive, whether behind the scenes or publicly," he noted. [The electoral threshold in Slovakia is 5 percent for a political party or movement running independently, and 7 percent for a coalition of two parties - ed. note] Simecka also criticised the current government, saying he believes Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) is no longer fit to govern. He lambasted him for neglecting the country's problems and focusing solely on himself, calling for change. The PS leader expressed disappointment over the premier's personal attacks against him and his family, calling them vile. "Neither I nor my family are in any way disturbed by this, and it will not discourage me," he stated. According to Simecka, the alternative would be a government formed by the PS, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), and Democrats. He believes that they could create a stable government with these partners. However, he fears that this wouldn't be possible with the 'Slovakia' party. "I want this alternative to last. All of Slovakia has experience with how Igor Matovic governed and how he acted as a coalition member. That experience tells me it won't be stable, and it will collapse after a month or two, bringing Robert Fico or another government back," he added. lin