PS to File Motion to Dismiss Blanar, All Other Opposition Parties Sign It

Bratislava, 4 November (TASR) - The opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party will file a motion to dismiss Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD), PS vice-chairpersons Ivan Korcok and Beata Jurík told a news conference on Wednesday, adding that all opposition parties have added their signatures to the motion. PS representatives cited several actions taken by the minister, which, in their view, have undermined Slovakia's interests on the international stage, as grounds for seeking his dismissal. "We'll submit the signatures in the next few days. Whether a session to dismiss Blanar is opened is in the hands of the coalition," stated Jurik. The party cited the elevation of the status of the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Bratislava, an increase in the number of Russian diplomats in Slovakia and absences from important negotiations as the reasons for filing the motion to oust the minister. PS called on the minister to provide information regarding his trip to Moscow last week, where he met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. Opposition parties and movements criticised him for the visit, describing it as a betrayal of Slovakia's interests. PS announced that it would initiate the no-confidence motion in the minister in Parliament at that time. ko/df