20 June 2013 | 07:17
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Slovak lawmakers have rejected the EFSF endorsement, which is linked to a vote of confidence in the current right-of-center cabinet.
Smer-Social Democracy, or Smer, the main left-of-center opposition party, was determined to bring the government down in the linked vote. Smer, which otherwise supports the EFSF and other bailout initiatives, wants concessions from the government in exchange for its support for the fund in the repeat vote.
These concessions may include a government reshuffling and a firm timeline for holding snap elections before the current parliament term expires.
Leos Rousek reporting for Dow Jones from Bratislava says that a repeat vote to endorse the bailout fund could be held Wednesday afternoon at the earliest, a government party lawmaker told reporters.
"That's how long it would take to go through the necessary procedures, including a new debate on the EFSF bill by the government and in parliamentary committees," said Martin Poliacik, a ranking lawmaker for Freedom and Solidarity, or SaS.
Another person familiar with upcoming political talks said the repeat vote could be held no earlier than Thursday. "It all depends on further debates among main players after the confidence vote, but no repeat vote is likely [Wednesday]," the person, who declined to be named, said.
Tuesday evening the Slovak parliament was still debating whether or not to approve Slovakia's participation in the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) as the government coalition failed to reach an agreement to support it. The vote was delayed to give more time for more frantic negotiations to try and secure a positive vote. .
BBC reported today that after Malta approved the plans late on Monday, Slovakia is the last of the eurozone's 17 member states to vote.
Slovakia's prime minister tied the vote to a confidence vote - putting her government at risk. "I have to say that the coalition partners have failed to reach an agreement," Prime Minister Iveta Radicova said.The country's future in Europe was at stake, she said.
"It's unacceptable for a prime minister to allow the isolation of Slovakia." While three of the four parties in the government coalition back the expansion, a fourth, the liberal Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), is holding out.
The SaS has balked at Slovakia - one of the poorest countries in the eurozone - being asked to guarantee 7.7bn euros of the 440bn European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF).
It demanded a binding agreement that Slovakia would refuse to take part in the European Stabilisation Mechanism - which is meant to replace the EFSF in 2013 - and a veto over future bailout disbursements from the EFSF.
Comments
G.Scicluna
- Wed 12-Oct-2011, 12:11Il-PL mhu qed jillegitimizza xejn. Kieku ma sarux l-izbalji tal-passat bhal stinazzjoni fuq id-dhul fl-EU (la rieda u belahha l-poplu) kieku ilu fil-gvern. Il-PL ma jistax jopponi mizuri li JAQBEL maghhom anke jekk minhabba force majeure. Inkella jkun qed johloq spettri li jafu jigu jwerwruh fil-futur meta jkun fil-poter.
Id-diskors tal-partit ixolji smajtu fit-2008 ukoll.. min isemmi dak id-diskors ma jaghmel xejn hlief inawwar minn gewwa. Il-partit qed jilbes il-libsa li toghgob lil maggoranza tal-votanti, b'hekk jevita zball kardinali tal-passat.
Qatt ma tindunaw li l-PN ibazwar ibazwar imma jigi illegitimizzat mill-poplu. Il-poplu Malti jghix bit-tbazwir. Allura mur ghal ghajnu.
Carmel Cilia
- Wed 12-Oct-2011, 11:04Jien ma rridx nghid x'nahseb fuq din il- bicca pero jiddispjacini nara per ezempju il-partit taghna jigi kontinwament uzat mill-gvern biex nillegittimizzawh. Imbaghad fl-istess hin jidher li ma konnix kapaci ingaghlu lil gvern jibdel l-I.D. Cards. Issa ghadna kif assistejna ghat tracedja ta l-Air Malta fejn il-gvern ma jrid jghid xejn. U Il partit jibqa jintuza mil gvern tal-gurnata.
Nies bhali li ilhom snin twal jivvutaw ghal dan il-partit illum kultant lil-istess partit ma jaghrfuhx:libes libsa ohra. Veru li iz-zminijiet jinbidlu izda jibda jidhol id-dubju.
F'l-ahhar mill- ahhar kif qal sewwa kunsullier fil laqgha generali din is -sena l-elezzjoni li jmis hija make or break ghal partit. Jekk jitlef din l-elezzjoni ghal gid ta Malta jaqbillu jxolji.
G.Scicluna
- Wed 12-Oct-2011, 09:42Mhux kwistjoni li tbaxxi rasek. La qedin go dan il-grupp trid timxi ma li jghidulek. Kull ma stajna naghmlu jew nhallsu bin-nifs (kif se namlu), jew nhallsu kollox f daqqa (700 miljun - li mghandniex) u forsi jtuna garanzija fuq is-self. Il- problema hi li dawn il-flus huma kollha 'bad debts' ghax il-Grecja se tfalli XORTA. Voldieri dawn il-flus li slifnijom BYE BYE.
jeanpula
- Wed 12-Oct-2011, 07:41Jien ma nistax nifhem kif il Partit Laburista kellu ibaxxi rasu sabiex inhalsu il Bailuot tal Grecja kont nistenna ahjar mil partit tghana sagrificji ghamilna hafna issa xjonqos immutu bill guh ahna ghalhad iehor jien konvint li an kien zball kbir ghax flahhar net ser ibati il Polplu malta ghalsnin twal