Under Pressure

In CityAM's Forum section (which is by far and away the best bit of the whole newspaper, it's like a 'blog but in print form) there was an interiew with a Slovak MP who'd voted "No" to extending the bail-out:

THE EU IS FAMOUS FOR MAKING PEOPLE VOTE AGAIN IF THEY COME OUT WITH THE “WRONG” ANSWER. A SECOND VOTE ON THE ISSUE HAS NOW PASSED – HOW DO YOU FEEL?

It is unfortunate that the European machinery makes those who vote no repeat voting until the vote changes to yes. We are displeased with yesterday’s [Yes] vote, but it was clear to us from the beginning that the socialists in opposition would contribute votes for a heavy political concession – fall of the government and snap elections.

HAVE YOU OR YOUR COLLEAGUES BEEN PRESSURED FROM OUTSIDE SLOVAKIA TO CHANGE YOUR POSITION AND VOTE FOR THE BAILOUT – EITHER FROM EU INSTITUTIONS, BUSINESSES OR FOREIGN POLITICIANS?

All of these combined. SaS leader Richard Sulik had a private meeting with Guido Westerwelle [German Minister for Foreign Affairs], the Prime Minister was harshly pushed by Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy, we as Liberals received a decent and polite letter from our partners from the ELDR [the European Liberal Democrats, who both the SaS and the UK Lib Dems belong to], foreign diplomats mentioned the issue at every possible meeting occasion with any of us, and so on. The pressure even increased after this week’s No vote.