Slovak president cuts short foreign trip

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia—Slovakia’s president is cutting short his trip to Asia to return home to help solve a political crisis after Parliament refused to endorse more powers for an EU bailout fund and the government collapsed.

The presidential office said Ivan Gasparovic, who is visiting Indonesia and the Philippines, will likely come back Thursday, not on Saturday as originally scheduled.

Gasparovic will dismiss Prime Minister Iveta Radicova and her coalition government after they lost a confidence vote Tuesday due to a rebellion against the EU fund from a coalition partner. Gasparovic could also name a new premier. Early elections are an option if approved by Parliament.

Meanwhile, the coalition and a major opposition force have agreed to work to reach a deal to approve the fund.

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