Culture Minister Toth survives no-confidence motion

A no-confidence vote in Culture Minister Ludovit Toth held at a special session on Friday, initiated by the opposition Movement for a Democratic Slovakia was not successful. 59 deputies voted for the no-confidence proposal in Toth, 9 were against, and more than 30 abstained. According to the Constitution, 76 votes are required for a minister to be recalled. As the Culture Minister stated he did not expect the vote to be successful. The Minsiter objected to accusations made by the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia head Vladimir Meciar that he has been trying to sell off Slovakia's cultural property.