Groehling Calls Sulik-Kollar Alliance an Ideological Somersault

Bratislava, 8 September (TASR) - Opposition's Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) leader Branislav Groehling describes former SaS leader Richard Sulik and former party member Jana Bitto Ciganikova's decision to stand on the candidate list of the 'We Are Family' party in the 2027 parliamentary race as an ideological somersault. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Groehling responded this way to Tuesday's announcement by 'We Are Family' leader Boris Kollar and Sulik on their cooperation in the next parliamentary election. "Richard Sulik and Jana Bitto Ciganikova's decision to run for Boris Kollar's party is an ideological somersault. Boris Kollar has long promoted populist and left-wing proposals that Sulik once opposed in politics — 25,000 flats a year, debt enforcement amnesties and a car for €100 for every family," Groehling said. Groehling said SaS under his leadership is clear about what it believes in and with whom it wants to govern after the election. He again ruled out post-election cooperation with Smer-SD, Voice-SD, SNS and Republic. "If the party around Kollar and Sulik does not draw the same clear line, it is leaving the door open to parties that are destroying Slovakia. It needs to be said openly: a vote for the Kollar-Sulik project could ultimately be a vote that helps Smer, Voice and Republic form a government, making their party Fico's Trojan horse. At SaS, we want to be part of the solution, not part of an experiment that helps Robert Fico remain in power," he added. Earlier in the day, Sulik and Kollar announced their plan to contest the election to Parliament on a joint candidate list. The 'We Are Family' party is to change its name to 'We Are Family and Team Sulik'. Sulik's team is to receive every second place on the candidate list, with Bitto Ciganikova not ruling out her standing on the list. Neither Sulik nor those around him are joining the party. Sulik terminated his membership of SaS in April. He cited a significant shift in the party's values as the main reason for his departure. He said his decision was also influenced by the expulsion of Bitto Ciganikova from the party. SaS justified the move by saying that she had damaged the party's good name and had long denigrated it in the media. Bitto Ciganikova, in turn, claimed that she had been expelled because of her criticism of current SaS leader Groehling. mf