The heads of Smer-SD, Hlas-SD and the Slovak National Party (SNS) - Robert Fico, Peter Pellegrini and Andrej Danko, respectively - met at their first post-election joint meeting on Monday morning, but they haven't announced any agreement on the potential form of the next government yet.
Danko, who on Saturday was re-elected as party chairman was the first to leave the talks, didn't want to comment on the situation. Meanwhile, Pellegrini reacted in a similar manner. Fico noted in this vein that he fails to see any reason to report on the talks as long as no actual agreement is reached. He stated that these are only partial negotiations and that his preferred options are Hlas and SNS. He added that he is focusing on these possible partners but looking for all possible options and promised not to comment until negotiations conclude.
Several media reported on Friday, October 6, that the three parties have already agreed to form the next governing coalition together. According to the reports, Fico should be the premier, while Pellegrini should take up the post of House chair. The Smer leader, however, has called the majority of these reports untrue. Meanwhile, Danko said at the weekend that SNS will support any government led by Fico, even if SNS didn't form part of such a government.
As for Progressive Slovakia leader Michal Simecka, he's said that he's willing to let Pellegrini become the premier if it facilitated the creation of a governing coalition consisting of Progressive Slovakia, Hlas, SaS (Sasku), and the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH). According to Simecka, Hlas should not fill both the posts of PM and Interior Minister. Pellegrini has not commented about this option.
(TASR)
