Kalinak: MPs Around Migal Keen to Address Regional Issues, We Can Allow This

Bratislava, March 5 (TASR) - MPs Samuel Migal, Radomir Salitros who were expelled from Voice-SD, as well as Jan Ferencak (Voice-SD), have a clear vision for supporting the regions, and the coalition is happy to offer them this opportunity, stated Defence Minister Robert Kalinak after Wednesday's government meeting. Kalinak emphasised that the goal for everyone is for Parliament to operate fully and effectively. He doesn't believe the coalition has resorted to political blackmail in an effort to maintain its majority. The minister didn't specify whether an agreement has been made as to who will take up the post of investments minister. The ministers believe that the government will have a majority in Parliament and that they will be able to open House sessions, which requires the participation of at least 76 MPs. "For laws to pass, a majority is required, and we in the government rely on having a majority in Parliament, because otherwise, we can't present any more laws to Parliament," said Labour Minister Erik Tomas (Voice-SD) after the government meeting. He expects that after the appointment of Rudolf Huliak (a nominee of Smer-SD [former SNS caucus member]) as Tourism and Sport Minister, the government coalition will have at least 76 MPs. "And at the moment we're waiting for talks between Smer-SD and the group of MPs around Migal," he said, adding that Voice-SD isn't communicating with the "Migal group". "None of these MPs have announced that they are going over to the opposition," he said, adding that the government still has the potential to hold on to 79 MPs. Tomas believes that Miroslav Radacovsky, the replacement for Huliak, will be able to take up his parliamentary seat. lin/df