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Slovak Republic
At stake: National Council
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 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 entailed the installation of radar bases and anti-missile shields in both nations bordering Slovakia.
On Jan. 1, 2009, Slovakia officially adopted the euro.
In Slovakia, the president serves as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, but is regarded as a mostly ceremonial dignitary.
In the 2009 presidential election, incumbent Ivan Gasparovic of the HZD ran for re-election. Gasparovic won the run-off with 55.5 per cent of all cast ballots, defeating Iveta Radicova of the SDKU.
Click Here for Slovakia 2009 Presidential Election Tracker
In June, Bela Bugar—who served as the SMK leader from 1998 to 2007—announced the formation of the Bridge (Most-Hid) party. The group stands for protecting the interests of Hungarians within Slovak society.
In June 2009, Slovak lawmakers approved the amended Slovak State Language Act, which declares Slovak the "language of public contact" in the country. The controversial bill, which was later signed into law, effectively bans the use of minority languages in public institutions, with violators facing fines of up to $7,000 U.S.
The Slovak State Language Act not only angered people in Slovakia but also in neighbouring Hungary. Close to one fifth of Slovakia’s population is made of Hungarians who speak their native language.
On Jul. 20, representatives from four major parties in the Hungarian National Assembly signed a statement urging Slovakia to repel the law. Fico replied: "The Slovak government will not allow any foreign pressure or blackmail, and will not back down on the issue of the language law."
2010 National Council Election
Slovaks will renew the National Council on Jun. 12. The governing Direction-Social Democracy (Smer) has consistently topped voting intention surveys since the previous legislative election. Smer’s leader Robert Fico has served as Slovakia’s prime minister since 2006.
In December 2009, representatives from the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKU), the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), the Party of the Hungarian Coalition (SMK), Bridge (Most-Hid), Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), and the Civil Conservative Party (OKS) held a meeting to discuss the possibility of pre-election cooperation. SDKU leader and former prime minister Mikulas Dzurinda expressed hope that a deal would be reached, adding, "Where there is a will, there is a way."
In January 2010, Fico faced a strike by truck drivers protesting against new tolls on highways. After weeks of tension, the government agreed to reduce existing taxes on diesel and to suspend part of the road toll system for some time. The prime minister was not pleased with the final solution, declaring that the tax reduction "is a huge sum and will cost the government a great deal."
On Feb. 1, Dzurinda announced he was dropping out of the electoral race. In previous days, Fico had accused Dzurinda’s SDKU of hiding fraudulent election donations. Dzurinda declared: "The key reason for me [not to run] was a monstrous game by Robert Fico." The SDKU will choose the person who will head its list of candidates on Feb. 27.
On Feb. 3, lawmakers approved the deployment of 57 more military guards to the mission in Afghanistan. There are currently 240 Slovaks serving in Afghanistan as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) force.
Voting took place on Jun. 12. Final results gave Smer 34.79 per cent of the vote and 62 seats, followed by the SDKU with 15.42 per cent and 28 seats. SDKU leader Iveta Radicova declared: "SMER is the winner of the election, but it is not enough to be the winner. You also need to be able to form a government. (...) Our wish is that this country will be called the tiger of Europe once again."
The SDKU formed a coalition government with the KDH, SaS and Most-Hid. The group controls 79 of the 150 seats in the National Council.
On Jul. 9, Radicova officially took over as prime minister, heading a four-party coalition government. Radicova declared: "We are fully aware of the fact the Slovakia, like many other states, still faces the impact of a deep economic crisis, that Slovakia has a huge problem with its jobless rate, with the high level of corruption."
Following a signature drive led by SaS, Slovak voters will take part in a referendum on Sept. 18. The nationwide vote will ask six questions, including a proposal to lower the number of lawmakers in the National Council from 150 to 100 by 2014 and allowing people to cast ballots in elections through the Internet.
Political Players
President: Ivan Gasparovic - HZD / Smer
Prime minister: Iveta Radicova - SDKU
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. 12, 2010
|
Vote% |
Seats |
|
|
Direction-Social Democracy (Smer) |
34.79% |
62 |
|
Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKU) |
15.42% |
28 |
|
Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) |
12.14% |
22 |
|
Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) |
8.52% |
15 |
|
Bridge (Most-Hid) |
8.12% |
14 |
|
Slovak National Party (SNS) |
5.07% |
9 |
|
Party of the Hungarian Coalition (SMK) |
4.33% |
-- |
|
People’s Party-Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (LS-HZDS) |
4.32% |
-- |
|
Party of the Democratic Left (SDL) |
2.41% |
-- |
|
Other parties |
4.82% |
-- |
