A total of ten MPs are set to leave the opposition Smer-SD party along with former premier Peter Pellegrini. The ten MPs announced their move at a joint press conference held on Wednesday, with Pellegrini adding that he believes their numbers will grow. The former Prime Minister is being followed by party vice-chairs Richard Rasi and Peter Ziga, as well as a member of the party presidium, Denisa Sakova, among others. As Pellegrini announced, they are planning to set up a new party by September. "We want to be the voice of social democracy in Slovakia," stated Pellegrini, explaining that the new project is designed to protect vulnerable social groups, carry a strong humanitarian legacy and honour the anti-fascist tradition. Pellegrini wants his new party to be financed openly and transparently "without any surreptitious oligarchs backstage."
