At least two votes will be needed before the Slovak Parliament will raise the green card for the strengthening of the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF). This is the thought of the Slovak Finance Minister who expects a no tonight on the motion of confidence launched by Prime Minister Iveta Radicova in the Government. "We can expect the EFSF to be approved in Slovakia this week," said minister Ivan Miklos. Therefore not tonight, when Iveta Radicova will submit the request for the enlargement of the European bailout fund to the executive trust.
Many are expecting a negative verdict, due to opposition from the Freedom and Solidarity Party (Sas). If the minister's assumptions turn out to be correct, Radicova should open the doors to new discussions for a second vote on the 440 billion euro bailout plan.
If, however, the prime minister succeeds in gaining the government's trust, the request for approval of the strengthening of the European financial stability fund will pass to Parliament. However, the social-democratic opposition has set the resignation and a reshuffle of the government as a condition for its favorable vote.
