An early general election in Slovakia will be held on September 30, 2023, according to a resolution on shortening the electoral term, approved by Parliament on Tuesday. From 148 MPs present in the vote, 92 backed the draft resolution, 54 were against and two refrained from voting.
The resolution shortens the electoral term launched in 2020 so that an early general election will take place on September 30, 2023. In line with the resolution, the parliamentary chair shall announce the general election no earlier than 130 and no later than 110 days before it is held.
The parties of the former governing coalition, OLANO, Sme Rodina, SaS and Za Ludi, agreed on the September 30 date for the election. Smer-SD MPs suggested May 27 and MPs operating in the extra-parliamentary Hlas-SD preferred June 24. However, none of these two proposals gained sufficient support from MPs.
President Zuzana Caputova respects the decision of Parliament to call an early election and won't appoint a caretaker government, TASR was told by President's spokesperson Martin Strizinec on Tuesday. The head of state pointed out that the decision by Parliament is the logical development after the government lost Parliament's confidence in December and thus the legitimacy to govern until the end of the regular election term. "Note, however, that in case critical failures occur on part of the interim government of Eduard Heger, I'm prepared to appoint a caretaker cabinet at any time for the remainder of the term," warned the President. (TASR)
