Slovak parliament approves caretaker govt plan

Slovakia’s parliament has voted to amend the constitution to allow a caretaker government to lead the country until early elections.

The amendment was approved in a 139-0 vote to give President Ivan Gasparovic the right to reappoint the outgoing government of prime minister Iveta Radicova to stay in power till the March 10 poll.

Ms Radicova’s one-year-old government fell last week when Parliament rejected more powers for an EU bailout fund in a vote tied to a confidence vote in her government. It failed because a coalition partner refused to support it.

Parliament approved the expanded EU fund in a repeat vote after the opposition voted “yes” in exchange for early elections.

The caretaker government will have its powers limited.