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AZEN and Roma Initiative to Have Joint Slate in Parliamentary Elections
Friday 19 February 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, February 19 (TASR) - The Alliance for a Europe of Nations (AZEN) will put together a joint slate with the Roma Initiative of Slovakia (RIS) for the parliamentary elections in June, AZEN chair Milan Urbani announced at a press conference on Friday.
Urbani said that one RIS nominee will feature among the first ten names on the list, while another three will be put between 10th and 20th place.
"When we help the Roma, we help the whole of society," said Urbani commenting on the reason for the move.
"We want to reach out to the voters and get into Parliament, and direct the solution of the Roma issue into (the hands of) the Roma," said RIS chief Alexander Patkolo.
"Anything above 5 percent (the threshold for getting into Parliament) is a success," said Urbani, adding that thanks to AZEN voters finally have a party to vote for.
Urbani announced as recently as last week that he is the chair of AZEN, a new centrist party that has been active for around six months.
Urbani said that he wouldn't reject co-operation with any parties with similar programmes, including the main governing Smer-SD party. He further stated that AZEN has adopted both leftist and rightist ideas, such as the social dimension of politics on one side, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises on the other.
As for foreign policy, AZEN will make economic diplomacy its priority, said Urbani.
Urbani was expelled from LS-HZDS in December, following allegations that he was engaged in building up the structures of the European Democratic Party (EDS). Urbani denied any involvement in EDS.
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