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Slovak caretaker PM seeks new majority to finish term

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Slovak centre right Prime Minister Eduard Heger was serving as a temporary caretaker after losing a no confidence vote last month. Heger said Monday that he would try to form a new parliamentary majority over the next few days in order to complete his four-year term.

Heger's government was overthrown in September by Freedom and Solidarity, a libertarian coalition partner. Together with other government deputies, they turned against the cabinet during a December vote.

Some politicians, including some members of the current coalition have also called for an election to be held in 2019. However, Heger stated that he believes he can form a majority.

Heger stated in recorded comments to reporters that his ambition was to get 76 votes to allow us to continue until the end.

He stated that he believed his centre right, Christian OLANO party would win support form his coalition partner Sme Rodina ("We Are Family") and that it was reaching out towards the SaS party.

It is not possible to hold an election early before the February 2024 polls. According to current rules, the 150-seat parliament must find 90 votes to amend the constitution to allow for the vote to be moved forward.

Due to clashes with OLANO Finance minister Igor Matovic, the SaS left the ruling coalition mainly due to frequent clashes. Matovic was forced to resign from the caretaker cabinet in exchange for SaS's support of the December 2023 budget.

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"The SaS clearly communicated their intention to remove Igor Matovic from the government. He said that Igor Matovic was not a minister today so I don't see any problem or obstacle to them supporting this."

Heger's path to a majority could be complicated due to splits within the parties and unclear views from independents.

A 21 January referendum could facilitate the transition to early elections by amending the constitution so that only 76 votes are required to form parliament. The referendum could be invalidated if, as in other cases and according to opinion polls, turnout falls below the threshold of 50%.

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