PS Welcomes Postponed Constitution Vote, Nominates Dubeci for House Vice-Chair

Bratislava, 17 June (TASR) - The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party has welcomed the fact that the vote on the government's amendment to the Constitution will be postponed until September, PS leader Michal Simecka stated on Tuesday, reiterating that the new wording would damage Slovakia's international position and weaken the protection of human rights. The postponement of the vote until the autumn was announced by the Smer-SD caucus. Simecka also announced that he'll propose PS caucus leader Martin Dubeci for the vacant post of House vice-chair on behalf of the opposition. Simecka said that he's decided not to run again and that he won't "beg" for any mandate in Parliament. Dubeci has support in the opposition, he said, and a motion to elect him could be included in the current session. Simecka was dismissed from the post of parliamentary vice-chair in September 2024. The dismissal was initiated by MPs from Smer-SD and SNS who wanted to oust the PS leader over suspicions of the use of state subsidies by persons close to him, as well as of manipulation in the allocation of subsidies. They also accused him of organising protests. am/df