DistantNews
Support us
Slovak Ruling Party Smer to Contest Elections Independently, Minister Declares

Slovak Ruling Party Smer to Contest Elections Independently, Minister Declares

From SME · () Slovak

Translated from Slovak, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Slovakia's ruling party Smer plans to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections independently.
  • Minister Richard Takáč expressed confidence that Smer will win the elections.
  • The party aims to present pro-growth measures that do not impact the state budget.

Slovakia's dominant political party, Smer, intends to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections as a standalone entity, according to Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Richard Takáč. Takáč, a member of Smer, expressed strong conviction that his party will emerge victorious in the elections.

Smer will go into the elections independently and win them percentagewise.

— Richard TakáčMinister of Agriculture and Rural Development, expressing confidence in his party's electoral success.

"Smer will go into the elections independently and win them percentagewise," Takáč declared, emphasizing the party's self-reliance and confidence in its electoral prospects. He also indicated that Smer plans to introduce pro-growth measures, which are designed to be implemented through an expedited legislative process and will not burden the state budget.

Takáč mentioned that these measures would be presented to the government for discussion next Wednesday. While he declined to reveal specific details of the proposals, he suggested they could be fast-tracked through parliament during the current session. He also acknowledged that Smer, like its coalition partners, has its own important demands that it intends to pursue within the government.

We certainly have some demands in Smer that are important to us.

— Richard TakáčAcknowledging that Smer has its own priorities within the coalition government.

Meanwhile, Ivan Štefunko, a member of the opposition party Progressive Slovakia, commented on the potential for opposition parties to form a united bloc. He stated that Progressive Slovakia is working to prevent opposition votes from being wasted. Recent polls suggest that while a united opposition bloc could win the election, it might not secure a parliamentary majority.

Progressive Slovakia will strive to ensure that no opposition vote is wasted.

— Ivan ŠtefunkoMember of the opposition party Progressive Slovakia, discussing opposition unity.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by SME in Slovak. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.