Prime Minister rebuffs warning on coalition with National Party

Chief of the Socialists and Democrats faction (S&D) in European Parliament Gianni Pittella doesn't have the faintest idea of how a Government is being set up, so he shouldn't comment on how the Slovak one is being formed, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Thursday. Pittella heavily criticised Fico's party Smer-SD earlier in the day for its plans to enter into a governing coalition with the rightist Slovak National Party (SNS), again questioning Smer's membership of the Party of European Socialists (PES). "Robert Fico is attempting to form a coalition Government featuring the nationalist SNS. This move is raising concerns. He should abandon this political path, because he's risking being at odds with progressive values and principles", said Pittella in a press release. He added that S&D will call on the Party of European Socialists (PES) to debate Smer's membership. "[Pittella] doesn't have the faintest idea of how a Government is being set up", said Fico, adding that individuals should only make comments on things when they know what's going on. "My grandpa used to say: 'Choose the right words when talking about things you don't understand'", concluded Fico.