Slovak president to dismiss government

[October 14, 2011]  BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) -- Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic says he will dismiss Prime Minister Iveta Radicova's coalition government after it lost a parliamentary confidence vote.

The government fell on Tuesday when Parliament failed to approve more powers for an EU bailout fund in a vote tied to a confidence vote in Radicova's 1-year-old government. The vote failed because a coalition partner refused to support it.

Parliament approved the expanded EU fund in a repeat vote on Thursday after the opposition voted in favor in exchange for early elections.

After meeting Radicova on Friday, Gasparovic said he will consult leaders of major parties Monday before naming a new prime minister whose interim government would be in power until the early ballot on March 10.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.