Calls for early general election

Public calls for a referendum and an internet poll for a snap general election prove that former prime ministers for Smer-SD Robert Fico and Peter Pellegrini (the latter now in Voice) have remained allies and that their moves are motivated by achieving the liberation of their accomplices arrested for corruption and by a desire to continue ransacking Slovakia, said Economy Minister Richard Sulik (Freedom and Solidarity/SaS) on Thursday. Several senior figures from the law-enforcement and judiciary have been arrested in recent months on allegations of corruption. Pellegrini earlier in the day called on the public to join an internet poll on an early election, due to be launched on November 17, which is a state holiday commemorating the Velvet Revolution of 1989. If most people vote in favour of an early election, Pellegrini will present the proposal to Parliament. If it is rejected, he wants to initiate a referendum. Fico on Wednesday said that if Smer-SD senses enough support among the public for a snap general election, it will start collecting the public signatures needed to organise a referendum on the matter. A turnout of at least 50 percent is necessary for a referendum to be valid.