THE HZDS SHUFFLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000218

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2015
TAGS: PGOV PINR LO
SUBJECT: THE HZDS SHUFFLE


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Scott N. Thayer for reasons 1.4(b) and
(d).


1. (C) Viliam Veteska unexpectedly gave up his post as
parliamentary caucus leader of the opposition People's
Party-Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (LS-HZDS). He will
be temporarily replaced by Tibor Cabaj. Veteska will,
however, maintain the post of Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
Although he gave health problems as the reason, some
politicians have suggested he gave up the post due to
conflicts with party boss Vladimir Meciar. Meciar may be
ousting MPs who favor collaboration with Robert Fico's Smer.
Smer MP Robert Kalinak told poloff that Veteska could leave
HZDS and join Smer. (Comment: Veteska is unlikely to join
Smer, although he had lobbied within HZDS for closer
cooperation with Smer. We have heard from other party
insiders that Veteska would like to replace Meciar as leader
of HZDS after the 2006 parliamentary elections. End comment.)


2. (C) Meciar may be positioning HZDS to join a ruling
coalition after the 2006 parliamentary elections by moving
LS-HZDS towards Mikulas Dzurinda's SDKU (and Pavol Rusko's
ANO). However, Meciar's tactic could weaken his party,s
voter appeal, since Meciar's loyalists are not angry with
Fico, but with Dzurinda. Tibor Mikus may be the next MP to
move out of national politics by accepting Meciar,s offer to
be the HZDS candidate in the Trnava regional elections
(November 2005). Jan Jasovsky left the HZDS MPs club after
Meciar nominated and MPs elected Jasovsky to head the Supreme
Audit Office. Veteska, Mikus, and Jasovsky make up the
"quasi" dissident group in HZDS that Meciar wants to remove
as potential future rivals well before the 2006 elections.


3. (C) MP Milan Urbani, a HZDS Vice-Chair who is very close
to Meciar, told poloff March 8 that Veteska was unable to
manage the legislative agenda and the behavior of all 26 HZDS
MPs. He said Veteska has back problems and needs physical
therapy. Cabaj has been an MP for three terms, is familiar
with the rules of parliament, and will be able to exercise
better administrative control as party whip. Urbani
confirmed that Veteska and Mikus had wanted closer
cooperation between HZDS and Smer, but said this particular
"internal discussion" had been resolved. Urbani said Fico
never keeps his word, so Meciar does not consider him a
reliable political partner.


4. (C) Comment: The history of HZDS is one of purges and
defections as Meciar maintains firm control of the party. It
is too early to tell if these recent moves will result in
another purge or defection, but we will continue to watch
HZDS internal shuffling as Meciar positions the party for
regional elections in November and parliamentary elections
next year.


THAYER


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