Slovakia rejects first vote on rescue fund

SLOVAKIA’S government lost a confidence vote called over a plan to bolster the eurozone’s rescue fund, but the package is expected to go through in a later re-vote because the outgoing prime minister planned to ask for help from the opposition.

The result had been anticipated after a junior party in the coalition said it would abstain. All 16 other eurozone countries have already ratified the plan to give more powers to the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF).

Slovakia’s main opposition party, the leftist SMER, has said it would be willing to discuss supporting the EFSF deal after the government has fallen.