Jan Ferencak Expelled from Voice-SD Party

Bratislava, 18 March (TASR) – The coalition Voice-SD party has expelled MP Jan Ferencak from its ranks, the party announced in a statement on Wednesday. Voice-SD added that it expects Ferencak to honour his pledge and to continue supporting the governing coalition even when no longer a party member. "The Voice party leadership has confirmed the expulsion of Ferencak from the party. This step followed a proposal from the Kezmarok district organisation, whose members expressed concern over his public conduct both in the region and nationally. The proposal was subsequently reviewed by the Voice regional council in Presov region, which unanimously approved the expulsion. The leadership's decision thus formally confirms the regional proposal and the will of the party structures in the area," the party stated. Ferencak left the Voice-SD parliamentary caucus late last year after Parliament, following a proposal by Voice-SD MPs, removed him from the helm of the committee on European affairs. He argued at the time that he couldn't remain in a political environment where critical words lead to persecution. However, he declared that he would remain a member of the party. Voice-SD leader Matus Sutaj Estok commented at the time that he had no intention of expelling Ferencak, but he criticised some of his actions over the past year. mf/df