Head of the opposition Smer-SD party Robert Fico on Thursday called on the president, parliamentary chair and premier to take part in the referendum due to take place on Saturday, claiming that the plebiscite is the only way towards a snap general election, as there's no will in Parliament to amend the Constitution for this purpose and to approve a term for the election.
"The three most senior officials have a duty to show the public respect and deference to the referendum," said Fico, adding that a referendum is the highest form of direct democracy. He called on President Zuzana Caputova, Parliamentary Chair Boris Kollar (Sme Rodina) and interim Prime Minister Eduard Heger (OLaNO) to "stop playing ridiculous games" and to take part in the referendum.
Fico noted in this vein that if the referendum is successful, a snap general election could take place as early as in June because it would take only 76 MPs instead of 90 to approve the election if this was the case.
Speaking on a related note, Fico said that the president has deceived the public because she claimed recently that she'd form and appoint a caretaker government if the Constitution isn't amended by January 31 and a snap election isn't convened by the end of June. According to Fico, her statement on Wednesday in which she expressed willingness to accept a snap election term in September showed that she'll "respect this dysfunctional and broken government".
Fico at the same time remarked that the toppled coalition failed to agree on anything on Wednesday, and it still doesn't know how the Constitution should be amended to allow a shortening of the electoral term.
The referendum will take place on Saturday, January 21. The public will be asked whether it agrees with enabling an electoral term to be shortened by means of a referendum or a parliamentary resolution. The referendum was initiated by Smer-SD and other opposition parties. (TASR)
