FILE - Slovakia's President Zuzana Caputova talks for the media during a news conference with North Macedonia's President Stevo Pendarovski at the presidential palace in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. On Saturday Jan. 21, 2023 Slovakia holds a nation-wide referendum on amending the country's constitution to make possible an early election. President Zuzana Caputova's decided about the ballot after three opposition political parties gathered over 380,000 signatures supporting the move. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski, File)
FILE - Slovakia's President Zuzana Caputova talks for the media during a news conference with North Macedonia's President Stevo Pendarovski at the presidential palace in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. On Saturday Jan. 21, 2023 Slovakia holds a nation-wide referendum on amending the country's constitution to make possible an early election. President Zuzana Caputova's decided about the ballot after three opposition political parties gathered over 380,000 signatures supporting the move. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski, File)
BGBRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Slovakia held a nationwide referendum Saturday on amending the country’s constitution to make possible an early election.
President Zuzana Caputova’s decided on the ballot last year after three opposition parties gathered over 380,000 signatures supporting the move.
The constitution currently doesn’t offer such an option.
In Saturday's vote, Slovaks are asked whether they agree that the Constitution should be amended to allow a snap election if it’s approved by Parliament or in a referendum.
Slovakia’s constitutional court ruled in November at Caputova’s request that another referendum question — proposed by the opposition — asking whether the government should immediately resign, violates the constitution.
To be legally binding, turnout in the ballot must be more than 50% in the nation of 5.4 million people.
In the previous eight referendums since Slovakia gained independence in 1993 after the split of Czechoslovakia, only the referendum on the country’s entry into the European Union in 2003 met that condition.
Prime Minister Eduard Heger said he didn’t plan to cast a ballot, saying it doesn’t make sense.
The decision to hold the referendum was taken before Heger’s coalition government fell in December after losing a no-confidence vote in parliament called by the opposition following months of political crisis.
Caputova gave Parliament a deadline of the end of January to amend the Constitution to make a snap election possible. She asked Heger’s Cabinet to stay in office with reduced powers as a caretaker government.
She said the election should take place in the first half of 2023, but a September date would also be acceptable.
If the political parties don’t meet the president’s deadline, Caputova said she would select a new prime minister and swear in his or her government.
Slovakia’s next regularly scheduled parliamentary election is not until February 2024.
The opposition would stand a good chance of winning if an election is held soon, recent polls suggest.
The ºÃÉ«tv Press. All rights reserved.
For many Indigenous communities, access to financial services and economic opportu…
Trust in international money transfers has long been tied to physical places: a ba…
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Tax: | |
| Today's total: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
