Prešov Region to Expand Its Council After Political Parties Reach Agreement

Slovakia's Prešov self-governing region will increase the number of seats in its regional council following an agreement among local political leaders. The decision came after representatives from multiple parties — including figures associated with KDH (Christian Democratic Movement) and the Slovak National Party (SNS), as well as Hlas-SD — reached a compromise, with Hlas-SD, the center-left party led by Prime Minister Robert Fico's former ally Peter Pellegrini, successfully pushing through its preferred outcome on the expanded composition. Regional councils in Slovakia are elected bodies that oversee local governance, budgets, and public services at the county level. The Prešov region, located in northeastern Slovakia, is one of the country's most populous counties, and adjusting the number of council mandates can affect the balance of political representation within the region. The expanded council is expected to reflect the region's demographic weight more accurately ahead of upcoming regional elections.