Brussels, 12/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 12 March, the presidents of the Commission and European Parliament, José Manuel Barroso and Martin Schulz, congratulated the leader of Slovakia's left-wing Smer party, Robert Fico, for the victory in Slovakian legislative elections on Saturday 10 March. The Smer party won 44.4% of the votes, i.e. 83 of the 150 seats in Parliament. Schulz hailed this “clear and convincing victory”. He said: “Robert Fico is a committed European (…). I am convinced the new government will be a constructive partner at a time when the EU needs unity and determination more than ever”. The president of the S&D party at the European Parliament, Hannes Swoboda, said it was “exciting to see that a political programme which is at the same time pro-European and socially responsible can have such a great success”.
The spokesman for José Manuel Barroso said the Commission president counts on Fico's support for creating growth and employment, and that he is very keen to work with him. Schulz is “particularly” pleased with Fico's determination to contribute to eurozone stabilisation. Swoboda said he is convinced the new government will spare no effort to increase economic growth and create jobs while assuring sound public finances. He added that this means “we have an additional prime minister in office who will ensure that budgetary discipline is accompanied by a policy for growth and employment”.
On Sunday 11 March, Fico undertook to pursue a programme of budgetary consolidation and support for the eurozone, while the outgoing coalition was opposed to enlargement of the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF). He explained: “We live within the EU. We are in favour of safeguarding the eurozone and in favour of the euro as a strong European currency”. He underlined that his programme is “clearly pro-European”. Fico also pledged to reduce Slovakia's budgetary deficit and to bring in higher taxation on the wealthy.
A senior official of the EEAS, Miroslav Lajcak, could become foreign minister. The Commission did not wish to comment on this information, underlining that it is up to the future prime minister to form his government. (CG/transl.jl)