FILE - In this Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019 file photo Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini delivers a speech at the National Museum in Prague, Czech Republic. Former Slovakia's Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini announced on Wednesday a plan to leave his leftist party to establish a new political subject. Pellegrini has been deputy chairman of the Smer-Social Democracy that had dominated the country's politics since 2006. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, file)
June 10, 2020 - 4:45 AM
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia - Former Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini announced Wednesday a plan to leave his leftist party to establish a new centre-left political organization.
Pellegrini has been deputy chairman of the Smer-Social Democracy party, which had dominated Slovakia's politics since 2006 before being ousted from power by a centre-right party in the February parliamentary election.
His move was expected. He has clashed with the party chairman, former Premier Robert Fico, over the scandal-tainted party’s future following the disappointing loss in the election.
The result sent Smer to the opposition while a new four-party coalition government took over.
Pellegrini became the prime minister after Fico’s coalition government was forced to resign by the massive anti-government street protests in 2018 following the slayings of an investigative reporter and his fiancee. Investigators linked Jan Kuciak’s death to his work probing possible widespread government corruption.
Pellegrini called on Fico, considered a populist leader, to resign from his party post. He said Wednesday their future co-operation wasn't possible anymore.
Pellegrini said he wants to form a new centre-left party, saying he would be doing it from scratch and expected other Smer lawmakers to join him. He didn't provide further details.
A recent poll suggested it might be as popular as the Ordinary People led by Prime Minister Igor Matovic, a centre-right group that won the the Feb. 29 election.
News from © The Associated Press, 2020