Opposition Responses to President's Decision on Referendum Vary

Bratislava, 20 April (TASR) – President Peter Pellegrini acted like a head of state originating from the current governing coalition rather than a president for all the people when announcing the referendum, according to Progressive Slovakia leader Michal Simecka. 'Slovakia' party chair Igor Matovic voiced concerns that the referendum with the remaining two questions will not succeed. Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) vice-chair Viliam Karas stated that the decision did not surprise his party, whereas 'For the People' party chair Veronika Remisova pointed out that the referendum date, 4 July, may be problematic due to the holiday season. Opposition representatives said this on Monday in reaction to the president's decision to remove the referendum question on early elections. "The decision not to call a referendum with the key question on early elections, without turning to the Constitutional Court, is clear evidence that he chose to protect the government from a potentially large mobilisation against it," Simecka said. He added that Pellegrini, when still in opposition, strongly advocated referendums as "sacred" and a tool to meet public demands. In Simecka's view, the president should have consulted the Constitutional Court. Matovic pointed out that his party had proposed a constitutional amendment in Parliament that would have allowed a referendum on shortening the electoral term. "Back in December, we put to a vote in the House an amendment enabling the electoral term to be shortened by referendum," he said, noting the vote took place at the end of 2024. He added that all MPs from Smer-SD and Voice-SD voted against it, and that Pellegrini, then-honorary chairman of Voice-SD, had instructed his MPs not to support the proposal. He labelled Pellegrini a hypocrite in this context. Remisova accentuated that the president scheduled the referendum for the start of the summer holidays, when many families already have vacations planned. "The president knows very well that a referendum during the summer holidays is doomed to fail," she said, adding that a reduced two-question referendum is unnecessary and that the 10 million euros could be better used during fiscal consolidation. Karas reiterated that a referendum on shortening the electoral term without a prior constitutional amendment is not possible under Constitutional Court rulings. He described the remaining two questions as standard political programme issues not worthy of a costly referendum. "The Christian Democratic Movement clearly supports abolishing Fico's lifetime annuity and bolstering the fight against corruption and organised crime through better cooperation among law enforcement authorities," he added. mf