Slovakia’s SNS downplays tensions in coalition after Hlas minister questions its purpose

2 months ago 10

As Slovak Labour Minister Erik Tomáš (Hlas) expressed frustration with the SNS party for blocking the minimum wage law and questioned the coalition’s purpose, SNS emphasised that such disputes are normal and not threatening the government’s stability.

Roman Michelko, MP from the ultra-nationalist ruling party SNS, stated on Tuesday that there are no disputes that “would threaten” the ruling coalition.

“The coalition will definitely continue; there will always be some disagreements in a coalition government,” MP Michelko reacted to the tensions between coalition parties Hlas and SNS, which were revealed by the Slovak Labour Minister Erik Tomáš (Hlas).

On Monday, Tomáš told Rádio Expres that he has a problem with SNS because it is blocking the adoption of the minimum wage law, thus violating the government’s manifesto. He, therefore, questioned the purpose of the coalition.

“The setting of the minimum wage (…) is clearly defined in the government’s manifesto, which SNS also voted for. As Labour Minister, I then have to ask myself: If the coalition is not able to vote for its own manifesto, what is its purpose?” Tomáš stated.

According to SNS leader Andrej Danko, his party has no problem with negotiating the minimum wage but thinks the coalition must find an agreement so the law does not affect the state budget too much.

An opposition party, SaS, responded to Minister Tomáš’s remarks, stating that at this point, “everyone is already aware of the enmity within the coalition”.

Speaker of the Slovak Parliament still unknown

Additionally, Minister Tomáš reminded that Hlas is not willing to back down in yet another dispute with SNS – the choice of the new Speaker of Slovak Parliament.

The coalition has yet to fill this position, although the former Speaker, Peter Pellegrini, resigned immediately after winning the presidential election in April.

Since then, Prime Minister Robert Fico’s Smer and SNS party have preferred to give the post to the SNS, even though the coalition manifesto guarantees it to the Hlas party.

“We don’t intend to back down on this. I don’t see any chance, not at all,” Minister Tomáš reassured.

With neither side willing to pull out, the ruling coalition postponed the matter until September, along with other ’hot-button’ issues, such as the controversial „foreign agent bill“ and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act.

(Natália Silenská | Euractiv.sk)