BRATISLAVA, February 20, (WEBNOVINY)- SDKU-DS Deputy Chairwoman and Justice Minister Lucia Zitnanska did not speak with party boss Mikulas Dzurinda before she announced her decision to run for the post of party leader after the early race on March 10. She stated at a news conference on Monday that she told Dzurinda of her decision fifteen minutes before the start of the central board’s meeting on Saturday where she announced she would run for the SDKU top job. “Before having announced it I spoke with both party members and some people outside it. “I want that the program that I am representing had a chance to go through. It is a step aimed at bringing a chance to SDKU,” stated the minister.
Zitnanska conditions her decision on the support in parliamentary elections. She explained she would run if she gets more preferential votes than her party boss. “For SDKU-DS voters I am a guarantee that when I decide to act in some way than I do it. I feel support inside the party,” she stated.
Zitnanska understands the situation of the outgoing PM and SDKU-DS Deputy Chairwoman Iveta Radicova and difficult decisions she had to make. “I believe that Radicova will cast her ballot for the parent party. The SDKU-DS program is based on the program from 2010 of which Radicova is a co-author. This made me believing that Radicova has not changed her view,” said Zitnanska in reaction to Radicova’s announcement during the weekend that in March 10 she will vote for SDKU-DS.
SDKU-DS MP Miloslav Beblavy says that both Zitnanska and Radicova understand that the SDKU-DS is not a one-man party but the party of ideas and program. “A voter can be certain that s/he votes for the program,” Beblavy said.
At the central board’s meeting taking place amidst sharply plummeting preferences of SDKU-DS Zitnanska said she believes that three weeks prior to the election is not the right time for making such serious decisions as is the change of election leader. Party boss Mikulas Dzurinda is the No. 1 on the SDKU slate. Zitnanska also feels that the party is losing voters not only due to the Gorilla case but also due to the loss of trust among voters.
SITA