The three parties in Slovakia's ruling coalition said last night that they had agreed on changes to the government aimed at stabilizing it, strengthening the power of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico's "Smer - SD" party, the Associated Press reported, BTA reported.
The two smaller parties in the coalition will cede one ministry each to "Smer - SD". With the addition of the ministries responsible for investment, regional development and information and tourism and sports, Fico's party will control nine ministries, and its coalition partners - six and two ministries, respectively.
"Smer-SD" will use this political influence to stabilize the ruling coalition and restore its parliamentary majority," Fico said on Facebook.
The recent crisis in the coalition has put its parliamentary majority at risk. It had 79 seats in the 150-seat parliament, known as the National Council, before four Glas deputies and three from the Slovak National Party split with their parliamentary factions. The deputies did not join the opposition, but demanded posts in the government, parliament and state institutions in exchange for their loyalty.
That makes it difficult for the government to implement its program at a time when it is facing violent protests against its pro-Russian policies, the AP notes.