Monitor: Referendum: Rasi and Dubeci Open to Debate on Amending Constitution

(STVR, 'Sobotne dialogy', 25 April) Speaking on STVR's politics programme 'Sobotne dialogy' (Saturday Dialogues), House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) and House vice-chair Martin Dubeci (Progressive Slovakia/PS) have agreed that the Constitution should be amended to allow for shortening the Parliament's electoral term by a referendum. Rasi said the time has come to give people this option, declining to rule out whether Voice-SD would initiate the move. Dubeci noted that this is a legally complex issue and agrees that holding a debate on this subject is necessary. According to Rasi, if people have the power to give their mandate to politicians, they should also have the power to take it away. However, he said, this should be "subject to conditions that would prevent holding the referendum immediately after an election or shortly before the next one". Dubeci believes it's necessary to discuss this issue but refuses to address it through amending proposals. "I think that, in recent years, the Constitution has suffered enough from 'rushed' political ideas, so let's have that discussion," stated Dubeci. He added that he plans to attend the referendum called by President Peter Pellegrini for 4 July this year, but Rasi wasn't able to confirm this for now. During their discussion, they also touched upon the upcoming municipal elections, while Rasi stated "the only candidate who can defeat the current governor is [Interior Ministry's state secretary and Voice-SD member] Michal Kalinak". He denied that Voice-SD is currently working with the extra-parliamentary Republika party on cooperation or support in municipal elections. Dubeci stated that PS refuses to cooperate with the coalition parties or Republika and he believes that Voice-SD should distance itself more clearly from potential support for Republika. According to Rasi, no one from Voice-SD will accompany Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow on 9 May marking the anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. Dubeci described Fico's trip to Moscow as an "unfortunate signal". They also reacted to reports about Russia being invited to the G20 summit in the USA in December, describing the move as surprising. For Voice-SD, stated Rasi, it's important that the summit brings solutions for global economic stability and a ceasefire in Ukraine. According to Dubeci, Russia's return to international formats "should be based on the fundamental premise that, at the very least, a ceasefire takes place in Ukraine". jrg