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Names of Future Ministers Still Unknown, but Coalition Agreement Ready
Wednesday 23 June 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, June 23 (TASR) - Representatives of centre-right parties SDKU-DS, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), Christian Democrats (KDH) and Most-Hid on Wednesday agreed on the wording of the coalition agreement, but the details of how the portfolios will be divided remains unknown.
"Each of is has laid out our visions and expectations and we'll continue on Thursday," said SDKU-DS election leader and future prime minister Iveta Radicova. According to her, there is interest from more than one party in about a third of the posts, but she refused to specify them.
When it comes to the post of the deputy premier for a knowledge-based society, European affairs, human rights and minorities, Radicova claims that the post is useless until it carries powers as well. "But we agreed that, with real powers and performance expectations, this post is highly important," she stressed. It is not clear yet whether it will be maintained in the end. If it is, ministries may be divided according to a proportion 5-4-3-3, i.e. 5 seats for SDKU-DS, 4 for SaS, and 3 for both Most-Hid and KDH.
The leaders also agreed that the Environment Ministry should exist on its own and shouldn't come under the umbrella of the Agriculture Ministry, as it was prepared by the outgoing government for July 1.
Radicova specified that the approved coalition agreement deals with various situations, including submitting important decisions and laws, various proceedings - what should be approved by the Coalition Council, what needn't be the case – and actions that would be considered a violation of the coalition agreement.
"We've agreed that we'll meet regularly - all the MPs - so that we can also hear their opinions. I think we've counted on all problematic situations," she said, adding that voting along with the Opposition will be viewed as a violation of the coalition agreement.
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