Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BRATISLAVA213
2006-03-17 13:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:  

FORMER CHAIRMAN OF PARLIAMENT DOESN'T RULE OUT

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM SOCI PINR LO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2856
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHSL #0213 0761300
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 171300Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9634
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000213 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2021
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM SOCI PINR LO
SUBJECT: FORMER CHAIRMAN OF PARLIAMENT DOESN'T RULE OUT
ANOTHER CENTER-RIGHT COALITION


Classified By: Ambassador Rodolphe M. Vallee for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D
).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000213

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2021
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM SOCI PINR LO
SUBJECT: FORMER CHAIRMAN OF PARLIAMENT DOESN'T RULE OUT
ANOTHER CENTER-RIGHT COALITION


Classified By: Ambassador Rodolphe M. Vallee for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D
).


1. (C) Pavol Hrusovsky, the chairman of the Christian
Democrat Movement (KDH) and former chairman of parliament,
gave the Ambassador a frank assessment of Slovakia's
electoral map on March 16. Hrusovsky -- whose public split
with Prime Minister Dzurinda resulted in the dissolution of
the ruling coalition and the acceleration of the election
cycle -- delivered a dramatic 15 minute reaffirmation of the
close affinity he and his party feel for the United States
and our promotion of freedom. Looking ahead to the day after
the June 17 elections, Hrusovsky said his party is committed
to forceful freedom advocacy, and assured the Ambassador that
will not fade in the face of coalition negotiations.

KDH COULD WORK WITH SF IN NEW GOVERNMENT...
--------------


2. (C) Hrusovsky noted that the space for a "new type" of
center-right government was not only possible, but probable.
KDH has had extensive discussions with Freedom Forum (SF) and
its chairwoman, Zuzana Martinakova, regarding coalition
possibilities; Hrusovsky said KDH does not need "Fico or
HZDS." Asked about the personal animosity between
Martinakova and Dzurinda, Hrusovsky noted that the coalition
is about the future of the country, and not about
personalities. He noted that while Dzurinda could still
possibly be Prime Minister, current SDKU Finance Minister
Ivan Miklos might present an attractive alternative whom
Martinakova could "live with."

...BUT NOT HZDS!
--------------


3. (C) Painting former Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar as "a
criminal who has lost his mind," Hrusovsky was very animated
about the need to exclude HZDS from any future coalitions.
When the Ambassador asked Hrusovsky about whether HZDS could
participate without Meciar, Hrusovsky said "there is no party
without Meciar." He also noted that HZDS MP Viliam Veteska,
who currently serves as Vice Chairman of parliament, is not
an acceptable alternative, as Hrusovsky's experiences with
Veteska suggested that the Vice Chairman has "strong
Meciar-like tendencies." Only, Hrusovsky said, in the "most
extraordinary of circumstances" would KDH coalesce with
elements of HZDS.

COMMENT: LACK OF ANIMOSITY FOR DZURINDA
--------------


4. (C) Hrusovsky demonstrated a noticeable lack of
animosity for Dzurinda. During the Prime Minister's flight
to Washington last week, Dzurinda told the Ambassador that
his famous "political nose" smelled good things for the
upcoming elections. Dzurinda said that KDH and Smer are too
ideologically apart for close cooperation, and that SDKU is
ideologically closer to Smer than is KDH. SMK chairman Bela
Bugar demonstrated a close relationship with Dzurinda on the
trip to Washington, reinforcing the fact that a post-election
center right coalition may already have a SDKU-SMK "anchor."


5. (C) COMMENT, cont'd: Similarly, Prime Ministerial
advisor Milan Jezovica told us recently that the SDKU-KDH
bridges have definitely not been burned, at least from the
PM's perspective. According to Dzurinda, Hrusovsky and
former KDH Justice Ministe Daniel Lipsic were the first two
people to text message their condolences to the PM after he
broke his leg while skiing. When Ambassador mentioned this
text message anecdote, Hrusovsky smiled broadly, and
suggested monthly "friend to friend" meetings with the
Embassy to keep us updated on the political landscape.
VALLEE