Voice-SD: House Chair Post Belongs to Voice, Nothing Has Changed on It

Bratislava, November 19 (TASR) - Nothing has changed and nor will it change on the fact that the post of the House chair belongs to the Voice-SD party in line with the current coalition agreement, the party's press department has told TASR in reaction to President Peter Pellegrini's weekend call for the election of the House chair. "According to the valid coalition agreement, the post of House chair belongs to the Voice-Social Democracy party, and nothing has changed, nor will it change on it," stated the party. Voice-SD noted that even if not filling this post isn't an obstacle for the people living in Slovakia, since the parliament has been working and passing laws for the people, it is in its interest to elect the House chair as soon as possible. Pellegrini at the weekend called for the election of a new House chair. In his opinion, the vacant post is a bad signal for the public and foreign countries. Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has previously stated that the election of the House chair isn't a priority and that Parliament is functional without a chair. The post has been vacant since April, when then-House chair Pellegrini won the presidential election. According to the coalition agreement, Voice has the right to nominate candidates for the post. However, SNS chief Andrej Danko has also staked a claim to the post. Fico has mentioned the possibility of Danko becoming the House chair, but he added that he respects the coalition agreement. The prime minister has also said in the past that the election of a new chair will not take place until there is a firm agreement within the coalition on a new candidate. House Vice-chair Peter Ziga (Voice-SD) has been tasked with heading Parliament in a temporary capacity. ko/mcs