Europarlementariërs houden nieuwe Slowaakse regering in de gaten (en)

EUOBSERVER / STRASBOURG - Leading European parliamentarians have called for special monitoring of Slovakia's new governing coalition - which includes a far-right nationalist party led by Jan Slota.

EU socialists are even threatening to kick out the Slovak ruling social democrats from their pan-European party.

Just hours before the new Slovak social democrat leader Robert Fico is set to meet his party counterparts in the European Parliament on Wednesday (5 July), the socialists sent him a warning they would use "all relevant measures" to express their "dismay" that he did not follow their advice but teamed up with the Slovak National Party (SNS).

"This party is clearly and openly extremist, racist, intolerant and ultranationalist. It stands for everything we fight against," Martin Schultz, leader of the centre-left parliamentary group told journalists on Tuesday.

Wolf not vegetarian

The centre-right group in the European Parliament has also expressed concerns, with its German leader Hans Gert Pottering suggesting "Those who used to criticise Austria [when the Freedom party of Jorg Haider joined Wolfgang Schussel's centre-right ruling coalition in 2000] should pay the same attention to Slovakia."

However, he hinted that a declaration by Mr Fico like the one the Austrian chancellor made in the past - guaranteeing the democratic and human rights-friendly principles of his government - might again do the trick.

"It would be a positive approach which may yet convince other Europeans that they do not have to fear the further development in Slovakia," Mr Pottering noted, adding that the EU should in any case avoid the same "mistakes" as with the sanctions introduced by some countries against Austria in 2000.

But socialist leader, German MEP Martin Schultz does not entertain the possibility of personal guarantees by Mr Fico as a cure against potential retaliatory measures by his group and the pan-European socialist party.

"For us, it is a question of principle and it is simply unacceptable that the social democrats group up with the likes of Mr Slota. Mr Fico can only guarantee his own behaviour and statements but not those of his coalition partner," Mr Schultz pointed out.

"If a wolf says he is a vegetarian are we supposed to believe him?" he added.

Robert Fico has refused to react to the statements by Mr Schultz and said he would only do so after tomorrow's meeting with the socialist group's bureau, Slovak media reported.

A Slovak centre-left MEP Monika Benova told the EUbserver she would defend SMER party's plan to create a government programme and set out political committments against any extreme moves which would harm Slovakia's human rights record.

"The party should get a chance to defend itself and prove its true intentions," she said before Tuesday's top level meeting in the socialist group which is to discuss the next move.