The President of the European People's Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, congratulated today the newly-appointed Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicová and her centre-right government, following the recent victory of EPP and like-minded parties at the 12 June parliamentary elections. The new centre-right government follows the 4-year Coalition Agreement that was signed between the SDKU-DS (EPP), the KDH (EPP), the SaS, and MOST-HID.  SDKU-DS leader Mikuláš Dzurinda is the new Minister of Foreign Affairs and KDH leader Ján Figel is the new Minister of Transport.

"I warmly congratulate Prime Minister Iveta Radicová and her new EPP-led government, which includes many high-profile and experienced EPP personalities. I am convinced that the Radicová government will offer effective and credible policies, which will steer away from Fico's populist/socialist policy debacles," the EPP President underlined.

"Iveta Radicová has the political skills, the European commitment, and the dynamism to make this centre-right coalition government a great success. I look forward to receiving her at the next EPP Summit of heads of state and government, and also receving her Ministers at the upcoming EPP Ministerial meetings," Martens added.

Note to editors:
The EPP is the largest and most influential European-level political party of the centre-right, which currently includes 73 member-parties from 39 countries, the Presidents of the Commission, Council, and Parliament, 14 EU and 5 non-EU heads of state and government, 13 members of the European Commission and the largest Group in the European Parliament.

For more information:
Kostas Sasmatzoglou, Spokesman, Tel: +32-2-2854147
Javier Jimenez, Press Officer, Tel:+32-475480446