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Slovakia
At stake: President
Background
Slovakia became independent after the peaceful break-up of Czechoslovakia in 1993. For the next five years, the government was headed by Vladimir Meciar of the nationalist Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS). Meciar was internationally chided for his authoritarianism and allegedly thoughtless treatment of minorities.
In October 1998, Mikulas Dzurinda of the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKU) formed a coalition government that included the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), the New Civic Alliance (ANO) and the Party of the Hungarian Coalition (SMK). Dzurinda won a second term as prime minister in September 2002, as the country positioned itself to become a full-scale player in Europe.
The electorate overwhelmingly voted in favour of joining the European Union (EU) in 2003. Slovakia became a member of the continental alliance on May 1, 2004, and joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in March 2004.
In April 2004, Slovak voters elected Movement for Democracy (HZD) founder and former parliament speaker Ivan Gasparovic as their president.
Click here for Slovakia 2004 Presidential Election Tracker
In July 2005, the coalition government survived a no-confidence motion after only 60 members of the National Council voted in favour of a proposal sponsored by the opposition Direction-Social Democracy (Smer)—short of the 76 required to actually topple the administration led by Slovak prime minister Mikulas Dzurinda.
The left-wing Smer was founded in 1999 and has been led by Robert Fico since.
On Feb. 7, 2006, the governing coalition collapsed after three cabinet members of KDH—interior minister Vladimir Palko, justice minister Daniel Lipsic and education minister Martin Fronc—resigned. A new legislative election was scheduled for Jun. 17, three months ahead of schedule.
Fico ran a campaign promising to cut income taxes for low-income earners to 15 per cent, and raise duties for some major corporations to 25 per cent. He also vowed to delay the adoption of the euro as the national currency until at least 2011.
Fico’s Smer party went on to win the most votes in that year’s legislative election with 29.1 per cent of all cast ballots, securing 50 seats in the legislature. Fico became prime minister and leader of what he called a centre-left coalition encompassing Smer, the Slovak National Party (SNS) and HZDS.
Click here for Slovakia’s 2006 National Council Election Tracker
Since winning the election, Smer has maintained a high level of popularity. Fico’s government has been marked by a search for balance between maintaining social programs and introducing prudent economic reforms in order to meet the EU’s criteria to adopt the body’s common currency. Fico has also been vocal in supporting the re-birth of nuclear energy.
In 2008, the prime minister expressed Slovakia’s discomfort with the participation of the Czech Republic and Poland in a missile defence system with the United States. The plan entails the installation of radar bases and anti-missile shields in both nations bordering Slovakia.
2009 Presidential Election
On Jan. 1, Slovakia officially adopted the euro. Slovak prime minister Robert Fico celebrated the transition from the crown to the euro, saying, "We’ve prepared ourselves for it (euro) very thoroughly, which can be confirmed by the smooth development in the first days in January, as well as by the gratifying information that the euro isn’t misused as a pretext for price increase so far."
In Slovakia, the president serves as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, but is regarded as a mostly ceremonial dignitary.
On Jan. 8, parliamentary speaker Pavol Paska of the ruling Direction-Social Democracy (Smer) announced that the next presidential election would take place on Mar. 21. If no candidate garners more than 50 per cent of the vote, a run-off will take place on Apr. 4. The new head of state will be inaugurated on Jun. 15.
On Jan. 23, incumbent Ivan Gasparovic of the Movement for Democracy (HZD) said he will seek a new term in office.
The list of candidates includes Gasparovic, former labour minister Iveta Radicova of the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKU), former parliamentary speaker Frantisek Miklosko of the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), Free Forum (SF) party leader Zuzana Martinakova, Milan Melnik of the nationalist Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS), former Slovak Communist Party (KSS) member Dagmara Bollova, and Milan Sidor of the KSS.
The Central Election Committee (UVK) has ruled that in order to win outright on the first round, a candidate must garner the votes of at least 50 per cent of all eligible voters, and not just of those who actually cast a ballot on election day.
Katarina Tothova, chair of the commission and parliamentary deputy for the HZDS, declared: "The UVK believes that a large majority of valid votes of all Slovak eligible voters is necessary."
In early March, HZDS leader and former prime minister Mikulas Dzurinda urged voters to support Radicova, saying, "This presidential election is mainly about whether Slovakia will have an educated, hard-working president with good general knowledge."
On Mar. 18, Martinakova expressed satisfaction with the level of civility in the campaign, saying, "Candidates never attack openly, as they know that things can turn against them."
Voting took place on Mar. 21. Final results gave Gasparovic 46.7 per cent of the vote, followed by Radicova with 38.05 per cent. Since no candidate surpassed the 50 per cent mark, a run-off would take place on Apr. 4. Turnout for the first round was tabled at 43.63 per cent.
Run-off voting took place on Apr. 4. Final results gave Gasparovic 55.5 per cent of all cast ballots. The incumbent president declared: “The Slovak citizens respect me and I didn’t disappoint them—that’s what decided the election.”
Political Players
President: Ivan Gasparovic - HZD / Smer
Prime minister: Robert Fico - Smer
The president is elected to a five-year term by popular vote.
Legislative Branch: The Narodna Rada Slovenskej Republiky (National Council of the Slovak Republic) has 150 members, elected to four-year terms by proportional representation.
Results of Last Election:
President - Mar. 21 and Apr. 4
|
Mar. 21 |
Apr. 4 |
|
|
Ivan Gasparovic (HZD) |
46.7% |
55.5% |
|
Iveta Radicova (SDKU) |
38.05% |
44.5% |
|
Frantisek Miklosko (KDH) |
5.41% |
-- |
|
Zuzana Martinakova (SF) |
5.12% |
-- |
|
Milan Melnik (HZDS) |
2.45% |
-- |
|
Dagmara Bollova |
1.13% |
-- |
|
Milan Sidor (KSS) |
1.11% |
-- |
National Council - Jun. 17, 2006
|
|
Vote% |
Seats |
|
Party Direction - Third Way (Smer) |
29.14% |
50 |
|
Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKU) |
18.35% |
31 |
|
Slovak National Party (SNS) |
11.73% |
20 |
|
Party of the Hungarian Coalition (SMK) |
11.68% |
20 |
|
Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) |
8.79% |
15 |
|
Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) |
8.31% |
14 |
|
Slovak Communist Party (KSS) |
3.88% |
-- |
|
Free Forum (SF) |
3.47% |
-- |
|
New Civic Alliance (ANO) |
1.42% |
-- |
