Slovakia poses increasing threat to EU bail-out fund

Plans to strengthen the firepower of the eurozone's bail-out fund may be put in jeopardy by Slovakia, where a coalition stalemate is prompting the government to consider asking for a special derogation.

Last in line to vote, Slovakia's parliament is supposed to pass two pieces of legislation - one agreeing the framework of the new fund and a second piece that would formally raise Bratislava's guarantees from €4.4 billion to €7.7 billion.

However, the junior ruling coalition party ...