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Urbani Expelled from HZDS, Party Asks Him to Renounce MP Mandate
Saturday 05 December 2009 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, December 5 (TASR) - Legislator Milan Urbani is no longer a member of governing-coalition LS-HZDS party, as members of the party's Republic Board, while holding a session in Bratislava on Saturday, decided unanimously to strip Urbani of his party membership, TASR learnt later in the day.
"The Republic Board approved proposals by the political gremium of LS-HZDS, and voted in an unanimous manner for expelling MP Milan Urbani from LS-HZDS, with the main reason being his involvement in favour of another political party. I'm speaking of the European Democratic Party here," said HZDS vice-chairman Jozef Habanik, calling such a double party affiliation unacceptable for HZDS.
Urbani remains a member of HZDS's parliamentary caucus for now, but a further move will be up to Urbani. "He's allowed to remain a caucus member, but it's up to him what he'll do," said Habanik.
According to Habanik, however, in light of ethical and moral principles it would be appropriate if Urbani considered returning a parliamentary mandate to the party.
The party plans to replace Urbani as head of the Parliament's committee for European affairs, with party MP Jan Kovarcik most likely to take over Urbani's post.
Urbani was given a political ultimatum - leave the party voluntarily or else the party's gremium will submit a proposal for his exclusion - on December 5, said LS-HZDS chairman Vladimir Meciar at a press conference on November 20. Meciar is convinced that Urbani is sitting on two chairs when he is engaged in building up the structures of the European Democratic Party (EDS).
"If somebody is interested in not having me in the party, I say I won't give up. Let them kick me out," countered Urbani earlier this week.
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