Monitor: Simecka: PS and Democrats to Operate as Close Partner Parties

(JOJ 24,'Politika 24', 15 November) Speaking on JOJ 24's discussion programme 'Politika 24' (Politics 24) on Sunday, opposition's Progressive Slovakia (PS) leader Michal Simecka stated that he expects the electoral alliance with the Democrats in the 2027 parliamentary election to deliver strong results. The two parties will operate as close partners with separate parliamentary caucuses in the next Parliament and form part of a new governing coalition due to replace replace Robert Fico (Smer-SD), while withstanding and averting the threat of a government led by Smer and Republic. "We have declared our openness to other political parties, although personally I am rather sceptical, given their positions. If it happens, I'll be very pleased, and in that case both we and the Democrats will negotiate with them," the PS leader said, referring to the possible accession of other opposition parties to their electoral coalition. He said the alliance would be successful if it led to the formation of a strong, effective and stable government capable of reversing the country's decline and putting Slovakia back on a path of progress. According to Simecka, achieving political change requires parties to stop focusing solely on their own interests and electoral gains. "So that we can get half a percentage point or one more seat. I believe we could win the election on our own and secure a large number of MPs, but what good would that do if other opposition parties failed to enter Parliament and we didn't have a majority?" he said. Commenting on a possible electoral alliance between the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and the Hungarian Alliance, Simecka said the decision was entirely theirs to make. "What I am interested in, as the leader of the strongest party, is ensuring that we have a stable majority and that no opposition votes are squandered," the PS leader declared, adding that dialogue between KDH and the Hungarian Alliance has also taken place at his initiative. He ruled out tolerating what seems to be the current minority government without a parliamentary majority and reiterated that an early election remained the best solution. "That is absolutely out of the question," Simecka said, adding that PS will vote alongside Smer only in favour of calling an early election, in order to secure the required 90 votes. "The running of the country is already at risk simply because this government remains in office. The sooner it leaves, the better. We're offering the 33 votes of our MPs in favour of an early election as soon as possible, although I know this is unlikely," he noted. Simecka said he still wanted to become prime minister if his party won the election and was tasked with forming a government. He does not intend to step aside as the party's prime ministerial candidate in favour of another PS colleague. "If PS, in cooperation with the Democrats, wins the election, it will form the government. I'll be the nominee for prime minister, with the strongest mandate from both the party and my colleagues," he confirmed. mf