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Sulik: SaS's Referendum Still Important
Thursday 24 June 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, June 24 (TASR) - The referendum initiated by Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) doesn't lose its sense even after four out of the six issues in question have appeared in the new Coalition Agreement of the incoming Government, SaS chairman Richard Sulk told TASR on Thursday.
In total, six questions are included in the Referendum: on abolishing television and radio concessionary fees, curbing MPs' immunity, downsizing the number of MPs from 150 to 100, setting the maximum purchasing price for cars used by Government officials, and helping to make voting in elections available via the internet. The sixth question concerns removing the right to reply of public officials (as included in the current Press Act of 2008).
"The votes of 90 MPs is required for restricting the MPs' immunity. If Smer-SD doesn't co-operate, this won't take place again," said Sulik. "If an insufficient number of voters come (to vote in the referendum) and the small number will say 'yes' and the referendum won't be valid (due to the low turnout), we'll be pushing this through parliament," he stressed. If most voters express their disagreement with the proposal, however, it will be a different case. "Then I would turn to the alternative that we won't be pushing it through the parliament, when people don't wish that," added Sulik.
Two of the referendum questions aren't included in the approved programme priorities – a suggestion to reduce the number of MPs from 150 to 100 and setting a maximum price limit for which government limousines can be bought. Sulik said they won't be insisting on them if they are rejected in its referendum.
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