Ferencak Hasn't Yet Seen Proposal to Expel Smer-SD from PES

Bratislava, 16 September (TASR) - Jan Ferencak, an MP for Voice-SD and a member of the Party of European Socialists (PES), is planning to attend the PES party congress in October, TASR learnt at his press conference on Tuesday. Ferencak confirmed that he's also heard in the media that PES is set to submit a motion to expel Smer-SD at the congress. However, according to him, he hasn't seen the motion. "I've been invited to the PES congress in Amsterdam between 16-18 October. I'm planning to attend this congress. I'll discuss with my partners and colleagues abroad what space I'll be allowed there, whether I'll also speak in front of all members and openly talk to them about the state of social democracy and the values of social democracy in Slovakia as well," he stated. Ferencak confirmed that he's heard that Smer-SD is to be expelled from PES at the congress. However, he hasn't seen a specific proposal and is curious about the reasoning behind the move. In his opinion, it will be up to Smer-SD to decide how to approach this. "Maybe representatives will come and defend themselves or they'll accept it and simply choose another [political] family," he said. The MP also has information from the media that there has been no communication about the integration of Voice-SD into PES yet. "However, it hasn't been excluded that such communication may be open in the future," he pointed out. PES is set to permanently expel Smer-SD from its structures at next month's party congress, according to information reported by Euractiv.com, citing three sources. The decision to suspend Smer-SD's full membership and the associate membership of the Voice-SD party was taken by the presidium in October 2023 due to the parties' diversion from PES values and their formation of a governing coalition with the Slovak National Party (SNS). am/df