PM Fico to form government as centre-right parties eye coalition

Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic said Sunday he would ask Prime Minister Robert Fico to form a new government after his leftist Smer party won the most votes in a general election that nevertheless gave centre-right parties a majority in parliament.

By News Wires (text)

AFP - Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic said Sunday he would ask incumbent Prime Minister Robert Fico to form a new government after his leftist party won the most votes in the general election.

Fico's Smer party won Saturday's vote with 34.8 percent on promises of generous social spending.

But it was a centre-right grouping of four parties vowing to rein in public finances that scored a majority of 79 seats in the 150-seat parliament, creating the possibility of a centre-right coalition assuming power should Fico's mission fail.

"There are different political possibilities but I want to ask the election winner to form the government," Gasparovic told journalists about his decision.

"I believe that a party that won such support from the people deserves the chance," he added.

In line with the usual practice, the president formally asks the election winner to form a government.

But if the winner fails to find sufficient partners, the president can ask the runner-up party to form a government in cases when it can muster a parliamentary majority.