Slovak Opposition Parties Split on Referendum Participation After Presidential Announcement

Slovakia's opposition parties are divided on whether to participate in an upcoming referendum following a recent presidential announcement. Progressive Slovakia (PS) has reversed its previous position and now supports participation, making it the only opposition party to change its stance. Milan Majerský, leader of the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), a center-right opposition party, said he would prefer to attend a religious pilgrimage rather than vote in the referendum. Juraj Šeliga from the Democrats, another opposition party, responded that Majerský could attend both church services and the referendum if he chose to do so. The disagreement highlights fractures within Slovakia's opposition coalition regarding their strategy for responding to initiatives from President Peter Pellegrini, who took office earlier this year after leaving the ruling Smer-SD party.