Ferencak Hasn't Yet Said How He'll Vote in House Chair Election

Bratislava, March 20 (TASR) - MP Jan Ferencak (Voice-SD) told journalists on Thursday that he'll communicate his position on the House chair election within his party and the coalition and that he'll express his opinion in a secret ballot. The coalition's nominee for the post should be Voice-SD vice-chair Richard Rasi, who stepped down as Investment Minister for this reason. "It's a secret ballot. I would like you to respect the right of MPs to express their opinions in a secret ballot. However, we'll communicate this within the party, we'll communicate it within the coalition, and I'll express my opinion in the secret ballot," said Ferencak. Meanwhile, House Vice-chair Tibor Gaspar (Smer-SD) has declared that all Smer-SD MPs will support the Voice-SD nominee. He believes that the candidate will be elected. "I would be a huge pessimist if I said that I don't," he told journalists. "I can say that the Smer-SD party will support the candidate nominated by the Voice-SD party in line with the coalition agreement. We'll deliver 42 votes," he said. "So, it will become clear to what extent he is a suitable candidate for the rest of the coalition. Anyway, I want to believe that he'll be elected," stated Gaspar, adding that he doesn't know what objections opposition MPs might have to Rasi. The House chair post has been vacant since April 2024, when Peter Pellegrini won the presidential election. In line with the coalition agreement, the post belongs to Voice-SD, which nominated Rasi for the post. The election of the House chair should be held at the beginning of the parliamentary session due to start next Tuesday (March 25). Rasi resigned from the investment minister post on Wednesday (March 19) and was replaced by Samuel Migal (Independent). ko/df