Matovic: By Choosing Simecka, PS Picked Weakest Opponent for PM Fico

Trnava, 28 March (TASR) - By re-electing Michal Simecka as chairman, the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) has chosen the weakest opponent for Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD), opposition 'Slovakia' party leader and former prime minister [2020-21] Igor Matovic told a press conference on Saturday. At the PS congress, Simecka received support from 191 out of 202 voting delegates while running unopposed. "Personally, I think that either [Ivan] Korcok, [Ludovit] Odor, or [Beata] Jurik would have been far better chairpersons for the struggle over the next year and a half. It would always be easier than having Michal Simecka at the helm," said Matovic, adding that it was a democratic decision by the PS congress and that it cannot be questioned. He also criticised Simecka's behaviour towards future potential political partners. "If PS does not lend a helping hand to smaller parties in the next election and the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), or the Democrats fail to reach the entry threshold, then Fico will govern regardless of what beautiful or pleasing speeches the newly elected PS chairman delivers at the congress," stated Matovic. According to him, it is Simecka's "sacred duty" to offer KDH, SaS and the Democrats a pre-election coalition similar to the Slovak Democratic Coalition (SDK) formed in 1998. At the congress held on Saturday, PS ruled out post-election cooperation with the coalition parties Smer-SD, Voice-SD and the Slovak National Party (SNS), as well as the extra-parliamentary Republika. "It's an enormous shame that PS was unable to rule out collaborating with Voice-SD before the last election," remarked Matovic. PS stated in its resolution adopted at the congress that "having seen unstable and chaotic governance between 2020 and 2023, PS will strive to strengthen the bloc of constructive opposition parties consisting of PS, SaS, KDH and the Democrats". Simecka also spoke about his party's readiness to form a pre-election coalition with other opposition parties if the Parliament entry threshold is increased, ensuring that not a single opposition vote is wasted. jrg