Democracy Digest: Slovakia Set for Referendum and Early Election

A referendum will take place in Slovakia on Saturday, as citizens vote on a constitutional change that would make it possible to shorten parliament's term through a referendum or by a majority vote in the parliament. The referendum, the first in seven years, was initiated by the opposition Smer party back in 2021. Initially, the party of former PM Robert Fico wanted to ask citizens a follow-up question: "Do you agree that the government of the Slovak Republic should immediately resign?" That second question, however, was ruled unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court. Referenda have a poor record in Slovakia, with only one, the vote to join the EU, being successful, with the rest failing on a lack of turnout. This one is expected to suffer a similar fate. "I perceive this referendum as a part of a political campaign of one party," President Caputova said. "I am therefore not going to encourage citizens to attend, nor am I going to discourage them."

Czech presidential candidate and former PM Andrej Babis arrives to make a statement after the announcement of the results of the first round of the election, at his election HQ in Prague, Czechia, 14 January 2023. EPA-EFE/MARTIN DIVISEK Czech presidential run-off goes negative; is Babis looking to sell his media empire?

The campaign for the second round of the Czech presidential election, pitching retired general Petr Pavel against populist billionaire Andrej Babis, has kicked off in bitter fashion. After each took 35 per cent in the first round, the pair will face off in a vote on January 27-28. Several other candidates, including Danuse Nerudova - the third frontrunner whose support in the first round surprisingly sagged at the last minute - quickly called on their supporters to back the general....

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