E.Kalinak: I Don't Expect Opposition to Succeed in Ousting Premier Robert Fico

(STVR, 'Sobotne dialogy', January 18) Speaking on STVR's politics programme 'Sobotne dialogy' (Saturday Dialogues) Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Erik Kalinak (Smer-SD) said that the statement that Fico is trying to pull Slovakia out of the European Union (EU) and NATO is false, to which former premier and MEP Ludovit Odor responded that small changes won't help, adding that according to him, the current government is historically the worst and should end. "Our home is the EU, our home is the NATO organisation, but we also recognise other parts of the world where we aim to economically build additional relationships," declared Kalinak. The former head of the caretaker government, Lubomir Odor, stated that if Slovakia's national interests are at risk, the opposition has limited options, one of which is submitting a motion of no confidence in the Slovak government. Odor doesn't expect early general election, but believes the topic will be discussed within the coalition. Kalinak stated he doesn't think the opposition will succeed in ousting Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) at the upcoming House session. In connection with the attack at the high school in Spisska Stara Ves, both expressed condolences to the victims' families and wished a speedy recovery to the injured student. Kalinak noted that he sees the polarisation of society and largely attributed it to the media and the opposition. Odor responded by saying that both the opposition and the coalition should refrain from using any vulgarities. "My personal opinion is that if Mr. Fico and Mr. Matovic weren't in politics, we would have half as much aggression in our country," said he. lin