Around 4.5 million people are called on Saturday to vote in a referendum to decide whether to reform the Constitution to allow for early elections, as is customary in other European Union countries.
Supporters of the constitutional amendment want to allow the possibility of holding early elections in Slovakia, as so far the country’s Magna Carta stipulates that the parliament, elected for a four-year term, could not be dissolved early even if a government fell apart and a majority for a new coalition could not be found.
The left-wing opposition has forced the referendum after some 400,000 people signed a petition calling for the change to be introduced, the DPA agency reported.
Bratislava is currently governed by a conservative three-party coalition, which no longer has a parliamentary majority. In the event of new elections, according to all the polls, it runs the risk of total defeat, which is why the ruling parties tried to prevent the holding of the vote until the end. The next appointment with the polls would not be until 2024.
The referendum is only valid if at least 50 percent of those eligible to vote take part, although this level of participation has never been reached – apart from the referendum on accession to the European Union 20 years ago.
Polling stations will remain open this Saturday from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
