'Slovakia' Criticises President for Not Inviting It to Roundtable Discussion

Bratislava, 9 April (TASR) - The opposition 'Slovakia' party has criticised President Peter Pellegrini for not inviting it to Thursday's roundtable discussion on measures to strengthen the country's defence capabilities. According to MP Gabor Grendel ('Slovakia'-'For the People'), this confirms the head of state's selective approach. At a press conference following the roundtable on Thursday, Pellegrini explained that by not inviting the 'Slovakia' party, he was expressing his stance toward the party and the standard of political dialogue it has set. Grendel called the organisation of roundtables in the current situation hypocritical. "In this situation, organising so-called roundtables and scaring people with a state of alert is the height of cynicism. Peter Pellegrini is apparently afraid that we would tell him this to his face, which is why he didn't invite us to this roundtable," stated Grendel, adding that participation would have been out of the question anyway. Pellegrini emphasised that he had invited all relevant political parties interested in addressing the country's problems, noting that he doesn't consider the party led by MP Igor Matovic ('Slovakia'-'For the People') to be such a party. "It is my sovereign right to decide whom I invite to the [Presidential] Palace and whom I don't," stressed Pellegrini. The possibility of declaring a state of alert - which, if implemented, would grant the military greater powers and a legislative framework for its operations - may not be included in the Slovak Constitution. Coalition politicians, opposition representatives, President Peter Pellegrini, and Chief-of-General-Staff of the Slovak Armed Forces Daniel Zmeko agreed on Thursday during a roundtable discussion on the need for further analysis. They will conduct a joint exercise to determine what legislative changes the Slovak legal system requires. However, politicians agreed on the need to amend defence laws. am