SK8 Welcomes Ombudsman's Survey on Electoral Districts, Urges Stability

Bratislava, 3 February (TASR) – The Association of Self-Governing Regions of Slovakia (SK8) views rather positively a survey by Public Ombudsman Robert Dobrovodsky concerning electoral districts and the equality of votes, and considers the results to be a valuable springboard for decision-making by individual regions, the SK8 press department told TASR on Tuesday. However, in the context of the approaching municipal and regional elections, it currently considers continuity and stability to be the most important. "Election preparations must take place in line with the valid legal framework. Any decisions by state authorities should take into account the time demands of election preparations so that their organisation is not disrupted," SK8 emphasised. According to the association, all self-governing regions cooperated with the ombudsman during the preparation of the survey. Asked whether the regions would follow the ombudsman's recommendations and change electoral districts, the association pointed out that determining electoral districts and the number of mandates lies exclusively within the power of individual regional councils. On Monday (2 February), Ombudsman Robert Dobrovodsky announced that many cities, towns and regions in Slovakia are massively, grossly and systematically violating the constitutional principle of the equal status of voters and candidates in elections to representative bodies. He cited the findings of the extensive survey on compliance with the equality of voting rights, according to which local and regional authorities have set their electoral districts in an unconstitutional manner. In the case of Bratislava, he had filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court last week. mf