House: Voice-SD to Table Bill on Referendum on Snap Elections in September

Bratislava, 2 August (TASR) - The coalition Voice-SD party will submit a bill to introduce the possibility of shortening the term of Parliament through a referendum in September, House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) has told TASR, adding that negotiations on the issue continue. Voice-SD attempted to push through the change back in June through an amending proposal to legislation extending the terms in office of local government bodies, but MPs rejected the proposal. "As the opposition's only objection was that the proposal to introduce the possibility of shortening Parliament's term through a referendum, thereby triggering a snap election, wasn't submitted as a standalone bill, we announced that we would table it again in September. Exactly as they themselves proposed it - as a separate amendment dealing solely with this issue. The opposition will thus get a new opportunity to show that it isn't afraid of the people and to vote in favour of it. Citizens should have the right not only to give power to politicians, but also to take it away from them," stated Rasi. The House chair said that negotiations with the political parties on the issue were continuing. "We will inform the public of the details once the negotiations are completed," he added. Parliament in June rejected an amendment to the Constitution, sponsored by by Voice-SD and MP Roman Malatinec (Independent), which would have extended the term of local government bodies from four to five years. Lawmakers also turned down Voice-SD's amending proposal that sought to enshrine in the Constitution the possibility of shortening Parliament's term through a referendum. Voice-SD has previously said it would submit a separate bill on the referendum if this change fails to make it through an amending proposal. The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) has already stated that it will not support it either. The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party is also opposed to the change. ko