Monitor: Rasi: Coalition Crisis Resolved, Parliamentary Majority Restored

(STVR, 'Five Minutes to Twelve', March 23) The unrest within the coalition was put to an end by virtue of the new deal and the governing coalition now commands the votes of 79 legislators again, Voice-SD vice-chair Richard Rasi declared on STVR's discussion programme 'Five Minutes to Twelve' on Sunday, whereas SaS head Branislav Groehling, also on the show, doesn't believe that the Government and the parliamentary majority will be stable for long. In Groehling's view, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) made a mistake, which will ultimately cost him his Government. "I'm confident that the crisis has been resolved. We can say that the governing coalition has 79 legislators at its disposal again," said Rasi, adding that the first test will come in the form of next week's parliamentary session. In this context, Rasi sees no reason not to hold the election of the new House chair straight away. Rasi conceded that both Voice-SD and SNS suffered political losses, yet the upshot is that the alternative of early election and the forming of a new anti-social government by opposition parties has been averted. Groehling, on the other hand, believes that Fico made a huge mistake that will cost him his Government, as Fico has sent a signal that he can be blackmailed by discontent legislators. Even if Rasi is elected the new House chair, instability will remain a problem. Both politicians concurred that the compulsory military service shouldn't be brought back. mf