Monitor: KDH Entertains Having Own Presidential Candidate, Pellegrini Undecided

(RTVS, 'Sobotne dialogy', December 16) Opposition's Christian Democrats (KDH) entertain having their own candidate run for president, KDH chair and MP Milan Majersky declared on RTVS's politics programme 'Sobotne dialogy' (Saturday Dialogues), whereas House Chair Peter Pellegrini (Voice-SD), also on the show, reiterated that he will decide whether or not to run by January 2024. Pellegrini claimed that he's been considering "very seriously" whether or not to make his bid for presidency. He plans to meet with rank-and-file members of Voice-SD by the end of Christmas and "discuss with them whether they can imagine that the Voice-SD party will have its own candidate, who's also the party's own chairman, in the presidential election". He added that his potential candidacy cannot be only his own selfish decision. According to Majersky, both MEP Miriam Lexmann or former justice minister Viliam Karas could serve as dignified representatives of Slovakia in the presidential post. As for the current deadlock of Parliament caused by the opposition's ongoing filibuster, Pellegrini claimed that the opposition has chosen to utilize all options available to it under the Rules of Procedures. "We'll do our utmost to have the budget passed by the end of this year," he stated, and added that the House might be in session even during the holidays. "We'll deliberate even 24 hours a day, if need be, to make sure this country will have its budget," he underlined. Majersky retorted that if the bill to scrap the Special Prosecutor's Office and the bill on whistleblower protection get withdrawn, the opposition will enable deliberations on the next year's budget straight away. He reiterated that KDH is against the abolishment of the Special Prosecutor's Office. "Those were our red lines before the election and they're our red lines also after the election," he underlined and called for an expert discussion to be held on the issue. "We perceive the Special Prosecutor's Office as redundant and unnecessary for such a small country," stated Pellegrini. He insists on keeping the Specialised Criminal Court intact, however. Pellegrini criticised what he sees as calls by some opposition politicians on the European Commission to take action against Slovakia in response to the planned legislative changes. "We're not at a stage, in which Brussels wishes to take the Eurofunds away from us," responded Majersky. Pellegrini would find it counterproductive for Slovakia to lose Globsec conference in the wake of potential political resistance against it. "Slovakia should support significant events that have become a showpiece for foreign affairs policy," he underlined. In this context, Majersky voiced his surprise over the fact that the Slovak National Party (SNS), which has tourism under its purview in the Government, is against having the state support such an event. mf