Slovak government to remain in office

BRATISLAVA – Slovakia’s centre-right government, which lost a confidence vote last week, will remain in office until an election…

BRATISLAVA – Slovakia’s centre-right government, which lost a confidence vote last week, will remain in office until an election in March, President Ivan Gasparovic said yesterday.

Political parties agreed to adopt a constitutional change that will allow the president to dismiss the cabinet after the confidence vote, but will also allow him to ask ministers to stay in their posts until the election.

Iveta Radicova's cabinet fell on October 11th when it lost a vote tied to ratification of a plan to give the euro zone's EFSF rescue fund more powers to fight Europe's debt crisis. – (Reuters)