Elections26: Winkler Now Chair of Dunaj Party and Its Bratislava Mayor Candidate

Bratislava, 22 January (TASR) - Martin Winkler has become the chairman of a new municipal political party called 'Dunaj' (Danube), which will take part in the local elections in Bratislava. Winkler is also the party's candidate for the Bratislava mayor post, after being elected at the party congress. The party also plans to prepare a slate for the city council, as well as for the local councils of the city's boroughs. "We're a team of experts, independents, people who know the city and the problems of Bratislava residents well, and who are ready to work for Bratislava under the brand of the Dunaj party," said Winkler. The party's ambition is to introduce practical solutions, order and responsibility to local government. Its programme has been built on the everyday problems that really bother the people of Bratislava. Its stated key priorities include well-functioning transport, parking reform, safety, reasonable management and an efficient Bratislava City Hall. The party proposes moving the cycle path on Vajanskeho nabrezie closer to the Danube River, reinstating 15-minute tickets for public city transport, resetting the PAAS city-wide parking policy, increasing funding for the municipal police, boosting the number of police officers, halting the "mindless" growth in the city's debt and promoting responsible governance. The goal is a balanced budget without increasing real-estate taxes in the next four years. Another priority is to cut the number of white-collar staff working for the City Council and municipal companies by 30 percent. Winkler is one of the two people who have officially announced that they'll stand for the post of Bratislava mayor. The other one is long-term mayor of Bratislava's borough of Karlova Ves, Dana Cahojova. Current Bratislava mayor Matus Vallo will probably re-run for the post as well, but he plans to announce his candidacy in a couple of months. Transport Minister Jozef Raz's (a Smer-SD nominee) name has been mentioned in connection with the post as well, but he's neither confirmed, nor rejected a bid as yet. ko/df