Election26: PS, SaS, Slovakia and Democrats Agree on Procedure in Kosice Region

Kosice, 13 April (TASR) - The political parties Progressive Slovakia (PS), Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), 'Slovakia', Democrats, 'For the People', Civic Conservative Party (OKS), and Democratic Party - Slovak Civic Democrats (DS-ODS) have announced a joint campaign for the autumn regional elections in Kosice self-governing region. The agreement includes the current candidates for Kosice governor from PS and the Democrats, Marian Porvaznik and Karel Hirman, with the stipulation that the joint candidate of these parties will ultimately be the one of the two candidates who has better prospects according to public opinion polls. This follows from a memorandum signed on Monday in Kosice by representatives of the seven political entities and both candidates. The document states that its goal is to create a framework for cooperation that "will lead to the support of a single candidate for Kosice region head by the signatories of this memorandum". The deadline for evaluating public opinion polls and assessing unified support for a joint candidate will be 31 May. The participants are to declare their support for the agreed-upon candidate for Kosice governor and publish the list of candidates for Kosice region councillors by 30 June at the latest. The agreement also includes a declaration by the participants not to enter into any form of cooperation in the form of a joint caucus or coalition with Smer-SD, Voice-SD, Republic, Slovak National Party (SNS), and their affiliated parties. In addition to Porvaznik and Hirman, Kosice vice-mayor and regional councillor Lucia Gurbalova (Christian Democrats/KDH), and Dzemal Kodrazi (Independent) have also announced they will run for the post of Kosice region chair. Rastislav Trnka is currently serving his second term as head of the region. am