and the Union of Towns and Villages (UMO) organized the rally because the laws have been manufactured with- out involving the self-governments, ZMOS chairman Michal Sýkora told the gathering. The rally was designed to fight the law on local elections to self-governments that diminishes the basic rights of the voters and introduces ethnic segregation into society. Self-government representatives say reducing the powers of local governments and their subordination to state administration is in question even at the price of violating international legal norms, including the constitution. UMO Secretary Marián Minarovič said that "the Cabinet wants to impose on us the political principle of former district national governments". The rally participants came up with an appeal for the Slovak parliamentary deputies to halt the process of adopting the Cabinet-tailored draft amendments and the civil judicial order. The Club of Mayors and representatives of the Third Sector Gremium that shelters non-governmental organizations also expressed its support for the rally.