KDH Won't Support Changes to Election Rules Sponsored by Any Coalition Party

Bratislava, 2 April (TASR) – The opposition Christian Democrats (KDH) won't support any proposals to change election rules put forward by coalition parties Smer-SD, Voice-SD or SNS, arguing that the government should first address the country's real and pressing problems rather than "red-herring issues", said the Christian Democrats in a statement on Thursday. "KDH will not support changes to election rules proposed by Smer, Voice or SNS. The governing coalition should focus first on tackling rising prices, fuel costs and family issues, not red-herring issues designed to cover up the administration's inability to deliver solutions for the public," said the party's press department. Several coalition proposals aiming at amending elections are currently in Parliament. A group of Voice-SD MPs and Independent MP Roman Malatinec have submitted a proposal to extend local authority terms from four to five years. SNS has also submitted a proposal to extend terms, but this one would apply to both local councils and Parliament. Both changes require a constitutional amendment, which needs at least 90 votes and support from the opposition, therefore. Smer-SD MPs have presented a bill amending the law on the exercise of voting rights. It would introduce a new system for voting abroad, requiring ballots to be cast at diplomatic missions rather than by post, while expanding the option of voting from abroad to presidential elections. The amendment would also change the amount of election deposits for the Slovak Parliament and European Parliament elections. mf/df