Monitor: Danko Convinced There Won't Be Snap Election

(STVR, Sobotne dialogy, November 23) Speaking on STVR's discussion 'Saturday Dialogues', House Vice-chair and Slovak National Party (SNS) leader Andrej Danko claimed that he's convinced that the government won't be toppled and there won't be a snap general election. Danko stated that he and Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) have agreed to do everything possible to handle the upcoming last House session in 2025 with 76 coalition MPs. "I rule out a snap election. I think we are experienced enough to reach an agreement and I believe that the three hot heads will sober up," said the SNS leader, referring to the three MPs who recently defected from the SNS caucus to become Independents. Danko's opponent on the show, Progressive Slovakia (PS) MP Michal Truban, noted that if there's a vote on a snap election in Parliament, PS would vote in favour of it. Truban lambasted the government for its consolidation of public finances and the 2025 budget, maintaining that the cabinet of Robert Fico is only interested in itself. Danko and Truban also touched upon the case of a man in Kosice who was beaten to death by a police officer. According to Danko, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) isn't responsible for the personal failure of the police officer and so the opposition's efforts to dismiss him are an attack on him. Truban opined that Sutaj Estok should hold himself responsible and resign. zel