Former PM calls on Fico to leave Smer-SD leadership

Opposition Smer-SD vice-chair and former prime minister Peter Pellegrini told a news conference on Tuesday that he has called on party chairman Robert Fico to leave the party leadership. Pellegrini stated that if Fico wants to help the party and social democracy in Slovakia, the time has come for him to step down as party leader. Fico would thus help to fulfil the goals he previously announced, namely, a stronger Smer-SD, increasing the party's coalition potential and creating space for new politicians who are ready to fight, said Pellegrini. The former prime minister stressed that while he and Fico agreed on the need to make the party stronger, there is also the need to increase the party's credibility. "Smer-SD must be led by a leader who wants to fight and whom people will trust," he noted. Pellegrini has already declared his interest in running for the post of party chairman.