(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – For the past four years, the governing Direction-Social Democracy (Smer) party has been the clear favourite in the Slovak Republic. As the legislative election draws near, the party maintains a large advantage over its rivals, but will need to build a coalition again in order to form the government.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – For the past four years, the governing Direction-Social Democracy (Smer) party has been the clear favourite in the Slovak Republic. As the legislative election draws near, the party maintains a large advantage over its rivals, but will need to build a coalition again in order to form the government.
In May 2010, 35.5 per cent of decided voters would cast a ballot for the party led by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. However, Smer’s current coalition partners are not doing as well as they did in 2006. The Slovak National Party (SNS) is at 6.1 per cent and the People’s Party-Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (LS-HZDS) is at 5.1 per cent. If these numbers replicate on election day, the coalition would control 75 of the 150 seats in the National Council—a scenario that would evoke the Czech Republic’s stalemate of 2006.
Smer’s campaign has devoted ample time to warn voters of a right-wing coalition encompassing the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKU), the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and the Party of the Hungarian Coalition (SMK). At this point, the three parties are at 28.2 per cent—nowhere near the desired level of support to actually challenge the ruling group.
In Slovakia, lawmakers are elected to the National Council through proportional representation with a five per cent threshold. Smer is doing better than it did in 2006 (29.1% and 50 seats), but the chances of keeping the coalition alive hinder on the LS-HZDS actually reaching five per cent on the Jun. 12 ballot.
The other possibility for Fico would be to rely on the backing of the Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), which at 13.3 per cent would become the third most popular party in the country. However, Fico has criticized the party’s stance on social issues, particularly its support for same-sex marriage and the legalization of marijuana.
The SMK has not openly ruled out a post-election collaboration with Smer, and may well become the kingmaker in the event of a tie or a drop in support for the LS-HZDS.
