The 'Slovakia' party won't accept an invitation that was extended to several opposition parties and movements by Progressive Slovakia (PS) to attend a rally marking the anniversary of the Velvet Revolution on SNP Square in Bratislava on 17 November, 'Slovakia' leader Igor Matovič announced on Thursday.
Matovič said that he refuses to share a stage with parties that cannot rule out cooperating with the governing coalition after next year's general election.
Matovič also noted that the 'Slovakia' party is planning its own events in seven regional cities, with Bratislava being excluded. He's invited representatives of PS, SaS, KDH, Democrats, Za ludi and the NOVA movement to attend. "We're inviting representatives of these parties to city squares. Under no circumstances will we invite those who say they are okay with forming a coalition with anyone after the elections, depending on who offers them the most," added Matovič.
'Conservatives-Christian Union' announced on Thursday that they are also declining PS's invitation to attend the 17 November rally on SNP Square in Bratislava. They'll commemorate the anniversary of the Velvet Revolution separately at St. Martin's Cathedral in Bratislava. Party leader Milan Krajniak said that he doesn't view it as a sincere joint commemoration by the opposition parties, as the rally was organised solely by PS.
The opposition SaS and KDH, as well as the extra-parliamentary Democrats and Hungarian Alliance have confirmed that they'll attend. The extra-parliamentary 'Sme rodina' party has also confirmed that it's received an invitation, adding that it will announce its decision on whether to attend later. Za ludi leader Veronika Remišova views PS's idea of bringing opposition parties together as a good one. However, she described the intention to invite parties from the entirely opposite end of the ideological spectrum to share the stage as risky.
PS leader Michal Šimečka told a news conference on Wednesday that PS has invited representatives of opposition parties to a rally that is due to be held in Bratislava on 17 November, with NGOs to be involved as well. The rally, aimed at commemorating the values of democracy, freedom and the rule of law, will take place on SNP Square at 5:30 p.m. According to Šimečka, it will also send a message to the government that its time will be up next year.
Source: TASR
