US embassy cable - 05BRATISLAVA218

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000218 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PINR, LO 
SUBJECT: THE HZDS SHUFFLE 
 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Scott N. Thayer for reasons 1.4(b) and 
 (d). 
 
 1. (C) Viliam Veteska unexpectedly gave up his post as 
parliamentary caucus leader of the opposition People's 
Party-Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (LS-HZDS).  He will 
be temporarily replaced by Tibor Cabaj.  Veteska will, 
however, maintain the post of Deputy Speaker of Parliament. 
Although he gave health problems as the reason, some 
politicians have suggested he gave up the post due to 
conflicts with party boss Vladimir Meciar.  Meciar may be 
ousting MPs who favor collaboration with Robert Fico's Smer. 
Smer MP Robert Kalinak told poloff that Veteska could leave 
HZDS and join Smer. (Comment: Veteska is unlikely to join 
Smer, although he had lobbied within HZDS for closer 
cooperation with Smer.  We have heard from other party 
insiders that Veteska would like to replace Meciar as leader 
of HZDS after the 2006 parliamentary elections.  End comment.) 
 
2. (C) Meciar may be positioning HZDS to join a ruling 
coalition after the 2006 parliamentary elections by moving 
LS-HZDS towards Mikulas Dzurinda's SDKU (and Pavol Rusko's 
ANO).  However, Meciar's tactic could weaken his party,s 
voter appeal, since Meciar's loyalists are not angry with 
Fico, but with Dzurinda.  Tibor Mikus may be the next MP to 
move out of national politics by accepting Meciar,s offer to 
be the HZDS candidate in the Trnava regional elections 
(November 2005).  Jan Jasovsky left the HZDS MPs club after 
Meciar nominated and MPs elected Jasovsky to head the Supreme 
Audit Office.  Veteska, Mikus, and Jasovsky make up the 
"quasi" dissident group in HZDS that Meciar wants to remove 
as potential future rivals well before the 2006 elections. 
 
3. (C) MP Milan Urbani, a HZDS Vice-Chair who is very close 
to Meciar, told poloff March 8 that Veteska was unable to 
manage the legislative agenda and the behavior of all 26 HZDS 
MPs.  He said Veteska has back problems and needs physical 
therapy.  Cabaj has been an MP for three terms, is familiar 
with the rules of parliament, and will be able to exercise 
better administrative control as party whip.  Urbani 
confirmed that Veteska and Mikus had wanted closer 
cooperation between HZDS and Smer, but said this particular 
"internal discussion" had been resolved.  Urbani said Fico 
never keeps his word, so Meciar does not consider him a 
reliable political partner. 
 
4. (C) Comment:  The history of HZDS is one of purges and 
defections as Meciar maintains firm control of the party.  It 
is too early to tell if these recent moves will result in 
another purge or defection, but we will continue to watch 
HZDS internal shuffling as Meciar positions the party for 
regional elections in November and parliamentary elections 
next year. 
 
 
THAYER 
 
 
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