News

Slovakia Re-Elects President in Runoff Ballot, The Wall Street Journal (2009)

The incumbent president of Slovakia was re-elected in the second round of the election.

FACTBOX - Slovakia's presidential powers, candidates, Reuters (2009)

This article contains some general information about the two candatidates who are in the second round of the election and some general information about the president's rights.

Slovak presidential election to go to second round run off, EarthTimes.org (2009)

None of the candidates got enough votes to win, for this reason second round must be held.

Who Wants to be President?, SKToday.com (2007)

This article is about the recent MVK agency opinion poll in Slovakia.

Patriotic Fervor Takes Center Stage Ahead of Slovak Elections (The Wall Street Journal - Blogs, 2010)

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico and his left-of-center Smer-Social Democratic Party are showing the will to sacrifice good taste and even irk of some of their own voters in order to make their fringe political partner happy.

Eighteen Political Parties will Compete in June's Parliamentary Elections (Slovakia Today, 2010)

Central Election Committee (UVK) on Monday informed that eighteen political parties have submitted their slates for the June's parliamentary elections.

Mail can bring June votes from abroad (The Sofia Echo, 2010)

The numerous communities of Slovaks living outside the borders of their motherland could influence the outcome of the parliamentary elections in June.

Slovakia: Poll of voters shows Smer well ahead; SDKÚ, SaS and KDH nearly neck-to-neck (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

Ruling coalition Smer party would have won a general election with 35.1 percent of the votes had the election taken place in the latter half of April according to polling results released by the MVK agency on April 28, the TASR newswire reported.

Slovak Election is a Race for Second Place (Angus Reid Global Monitor, 2010)

The governing Direction-Social Democracy (Smer) is clearly ahead of its rivals as an election in Slovakia draws near, according to a poll by Median SK. 44 per cent of respondents would vote for Smer in next month’s ballot.

Slovakia: Open racism rears its head (The Sofia Echo, 2010)

The Slovak National Party (SNS) is once again revealing its true colours: the party is waging its parliamentary election campaign with a billboard featuring a bare-chested Roma man whose photo was digitally altered by adding tattoos and a thick golden chain. The SNS billboard slogan: "So that we do not feed those who do not want to work".

Slovakia incensed at Hungarian double citizenship plan (WAZ.euobserver, 2010)

The Slovak prime minister is in the final stretch of the parliamentary election campaign before the country goes to the polls on 12 June. His Smer party can ill afford to lose votes to the radical right Slovakian National Party.

Slovakia: Polls consistently show coalition slumping (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

THE UPCOMING election is stirring much discussion and analysis of public opinion polls which show Slovakia’s centre-right parties gaining support while voters preferences for the Smer party and its current coalition partners appear to be dropping. The Slovak Spectator spoke to Kevin Deegan-Krause, a political scientist from Wayne State University in the USA, about the recent poll results and his analysis of the current political setting.

Slovak opposition KDH bets on right-wing coalition (Reuters, 2010)

The opposition Christian Democrats (KDH) said Monday they would not form a coalition with Slovakia's ruling leftist SMER party after elections in June, narrowing the SMER's chances of forming a new government. The country will hold a general election on June 12 which the SMER led by Prime Minister Robert Fico is poised to win, but may find it difficult to form a majority coalition.

Slovakia: Vote 2010: Smer gets another 'no' (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

THE TESTIMONY of a former senior member about trading state posts in return for cash; a leaked document published by local media purporting to show how some of these deals could have looked in practice; and a definite ‘no’ from an opposition party to an eventual post-election coalition deal.

OSCE starts monitoring Slovak elections (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

The Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) opened an election assessment mission on June 1 to monitor Slovakia’s parliamentary elections to be held June 12, the ODIHR press office informed.

Slovakia: Polls leave HZDS out in the cold (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

WITH THE parliamentary election only days away, percentage points and even tenths of percentage points, are becoming subjects for animated discussions among Slovaks.

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Slovaks Begin Voting With Polls Predicting Upset of Government (Bloomberg Businessweek, 2010)

Slovaks began voting in parliamentary elections this morning, with polls showing Prime Minister Robert Fico may fail to win a second term amid public frustration with corruption and rising debt.

Slovakia: PM faces scandal before election (The Straits Times, 2010)

THE biggest political scandal in Slovakia's 17 years of independence put Prime Minister Robert Fico under pressure as he went into a general election on Saturday.

Slovak left expected to win election (AFP, 2010)

Slovakia opened a general election Saturday with the governing leftist Smer-Social Democracy party expected to emerge the winner, but with few choices, if any, of coalition partners.

VOTE 2010: Slovaks begin voting in parliamentary election at 7:00 (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

THE SEVENTH democratic election for members of parliament in Slovakia since the fall of communism in 1989 has started. More than 5,900 polling stations opened across the country at 7:00 for the one-day vote. Polls will close at 22:00.

Slovak election extended by half an hour over storms (Earth Times, 2010)

Slovakia's general election, which was set to end at 2000 GMT, was extended by at least 30 minutes after storms caused power outages at some polling stations in the country's west, officials said.

Slovakian election: Robert Fico profile (Telegraph, 2010)

Despite being derided by rivals as a populist demagogue and damaged by scandal, Robert Fico remains Slovakia's most popular politician with his pledges to defend the disadvantaged.

Slovak president taps leftist premier to form government (AFP, 2010)

Slovakia's president Sunday tapped incumbent Prime Minister Robert Fico to form a new government after his leftist party won the most votes in the general election.

Nationalist fury as center right makes gains in Slovakia (CNN, 2010)

Slovak voters have dumped their government, prompting one nationalist firebrand to warn that the country would now be run by "homosexuals and Hungarians," the Slovak news agency TASR reported Sunday.

Slovakia says goodbye to the Fico-Slota-Mečiar ruling style (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

SLOVAK National Party (SNS) chief Ján Slota said that the exit-poll results from the parliamentary elections made him want to cry.

Slovakia: SMER-SD Won the General Elections But Might Not be Able to Form the New Government RSI (Radio Slovakia International, 2010)

Prime Minister Robert Fico’s SMER-SD party won the general election on Saturday with 34.79 percent of the votes; nonetheless, despite being asked by the Slovak President to form the new government he might not be able to do it, as its current coalition partners - the Slovak National Party (SNS) and the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (LS-HZDS) - failed to receive enough votes to back it up.

Slovakia turns to centre-right (EurActiv, 2010)

Slovakia is likely to form a centre-right government after elections held on 12 June were narrowly won by the ruling centre-left SMER-SD party, which stands no chance of forming a coalition. A similar development was seen in the Czech Republic two weeks ago. EurActiv Slovakia contributed to this article.

Representatives of The Right-wing Parties Ruled Out any Co-operation with Smer-SD (sktoday.com, 2010)

Political party of today's Prime Minister Robert Fico Smer-SD won the general elections reaching 34.79 - percent of votes. Despite the results SMER-SD won't be able to form a coalition as its former coalition partners Slovak National Party and HZDS didn't reach enough of votes.

Slovak right agrees Radicova to lead their cabinet (Forexyard, 2010)

Parties sign declaration on forming cabinet, SDKU election leader Radicova to be prime minister, PM Fico has almost no chance to retain power

Vote 2010: SNS says it would back a Smer-KDH government (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

The Slovak National Party (SNS) would have no problem backing a two-party governing coalition composed of Smer and the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), SNS chair Ján Slota told the TASR newswire after a meeting with President Ivan Gašparovič on June 16.

Vote 2010: Fico continues formal efforts to form new Slovak government (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

Prime Minister and Smer party leader Robert Fico will attempt to use the time remaining until June 23 to form a new government, Fico’s spokesperson Silvia Glendová told the TASR newswire on Wednesday, June 16.

Vote 2010: Radičová asks to meet President Gašparovič (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) election leader Iveta Radičová asked President Ivan Gašparovič for a meeting in a telephone call on Wednesday, June 16, the SITA newswire reported.

Vote 2010: Future governing coalition discusses cabinet posts (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

The Most-Híd party is showing interest in not only the agriculture ministry but also in the ministries of health and environment and is eyeing the post of deputy prime minister for human rights and minorities, the SITA newswire wrote.

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Slovakia, Vote 2010: Fico accepts election defeat, returns mandate (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

Prime Minister Robert Fico is to return to President Ivan Gašparovič the mandate to form a new government on Wednesday, June 23. "I respect the election result," Fico said following a cabinet session on Wednesday, the SITA newswire reported.

Slovak president asks centre-right to form cabinet (Reuters, 2010)

Slovakia's president asked centre-right leader Iveta Radicova on Wednesday to form a government, to be made up of four centre-right parties that won a combined majority in the country's June 12 election.

Vote 2010: New Slovak coalition continues talks on governing programme (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

The coalition council comprising Slovakia’s four centre-right parliamentary parties met on Tuesday, June 22, to continue discussion about the content of their joint governing programme, the SITA newswire wrote.

Vote 2010: Slovakia’s President Gašparovič tasks Radičová with forming government (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič on Wednesday, June 23, gave the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) election leader Iveta Radičová the task of forming a new government.

Slovakia completes government deal (TV NZ, 2010)

The four centre-right parties which together won a majority in Slovakia's June 12 election have agreed to form a coalition, with fiscal hawk Ivan Miklos returning as finance minister.

Slovak president sets Sept vote on parliament size (World Bulletin, 2010)

A majority of voters in the country of 5.4 million must take part for the vote to be valid.

First Slovak female PM Iveta Radicova takes power (BBC, 2010)

Slovakia's first female prime minister, Iveta Radicova, has taken power at the head of a centre-right coalition.

Slovak president swears in country's first female prime minister (Deutsche Welle, 2010)

Slovakia's president has sworn in the country's first female prime minister, Iveta Radicova, two days after her party agreed to terms to form a four-party coalition.

Slovakia: New parliament meets, Radičová becomes PM (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

ROBERT Fico posed for a final snapshot with his cabinet ministers on Wednesday, July 7. The prime minister and his colleagues were preparing to pass power to Iveta Radičová, who will now lead the quartet of centre-right parties that together won a majority in the June 12 general election. That same vote left Fico’s Smer as the largest party in parliament, but lacking a coalition partner to keep it in office.

Slovakia: New coalition inks the deal (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

THE FOUR partners in Slovakia’s newly-created centre-right coalition wasted no time when it came to thrashing out an inter-party deal which came to fruition on July 6. They began working towards an agreement almost immediately after the election results emerged on the night of June 12. Talks continued at a fast clip despite several disagreements and a Coalition Treaty was formally signed less than a month after the election.

Slovakia: The ministerial chessboard (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

NOTHING reveals as much about the anatomy of power as the negotiations to form a governing coalition. Under the veil of handshakes, smiles and declarations of soon-to-come better times, government posts are turned into chess pieces in a complex game where each party is determined to control the best parts of the board. Yet not everyone can do so.

Slovakia’s Hungarian Coalition Party elects Berényi as new party chairman (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

An extraordinary congress of the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK) held in Dunajská Streda on Saturday, July 10, elected József Berényi as its new chairman to lead the party until its general congress next year, the TASR newswire wrote. Berényi previously served as an SMK vice-chairman and he replaced Pál Csáky as leader of the party.

Iveta Radičová - Prime Minister of Slovakia (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

Portrait of the new Prime Minister of Slovakia

Friendlier note sounded about Hungary (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

SLOVAKIA’S new government led by Iveta Radičová is expected to be warmer than its predecessor towards the country’s southern neighbour, Hungary, and begin to thaw the rather icy relations that have developed between the two countries over the past several years.

Slovak President Tasks Radicova With Forming Government (Slovakia Today, 2010)

Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic on Wednesday gave SDKU-DS election leader Iveta Radicova the task of forming a new government.

Government Passed Its Manifesto (Slovakia Today, 2010)

The Cabinet led by Premier Iveta Radicova at its session on Wednesday passed the Government Manifesto. The document is now awaiting approval from Parliament in early August. The vote in Parliament will at the same time be viewed as a vote of confidence for the new executive.

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Coalition partners agree on government programme statement (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

After almost eight hours, the leaders of the coalition parties, Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and Most-Hid wrapped up their talks on the government program statement on July 28 morning. The partners reached agreement on all areas of the programme.

Prime minister meets MPs to discuss government manifesto (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radičová will meet MPs from the governing coalition (made up of her own Slovak Christian and Democratic Union (SDKÚ), plus Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and Most-Híd) in parliament on Monday, August 2, to discuss the government manifesto due to be debated on August 3, the TASR newswire reported, citing the Government Office Press Department.

Choma to bid for mayoralty of Žilina as Smer party’s candidate (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

Smer MP Igor Choma will be the party’s official candidate for the post of mayor of Žilina in the local elections in November, the TASR newswire reported on August 3.

Slovakia: Alojz Hlina declares he will run for mayor of Bratislava (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

Entrepreneur Alojz Hlina, who became well-known after stealing the Slovak state flag from Slovak National Party (SNS) headquarters in Bratislava and engaging in various types of political protests, announced on Monday, August 23, that he will stand for the post of mayor of Bratislava at the local elections in November.

Slovakia: Fico and Sulík clash over referendum (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

Speaker of the Slovak Parliament Richard Sulík (Freedom and Solidarity (SaS)) will face a no-confidence vote in parliament, Smer leader and former prime minister Robert Fico said at a press conference in Bratislava on August 25.

Slovakia - Speech of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic Mikuláš Dzurinda at the meeting with diplomatic corps (ISRIA, 2010)

Speech of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic Mikuláš Dzurinda at the meeting with diplomatic corps, September 2nd, 2010, Bratislava Ladies and gentlemen, excellencies!

Slovakia: Mečiar of HZDS says his party is searching for new election leader for 2014 (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

The People's Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) is looking for a new election leader for the general election in 2014 and it wants to find one within two years, said HZDS chairman Vladimír Mečiar on Saturday, September 4, adding that the party is also preparing a shadow government, the TASR newswire reported.

Smer remains most popular party in Slovakia according to poll (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

A poll of 1,018 respondents released on Monday, September 6, reported that Smer remains Slovakia's most popular political party and that it would have garnered 40.7 percent voter support if a general election had been held in late July or early August – more than the 35 percent it received when it topped the polls in the June election, the TASR newswire wrote. Smer was unable to form a government in June, however, because it could not find a coalition partner or partners that would give it a majority in parliament.

Slovakia: Motion to remove Speaker of Parliament Sulík fails (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

Richard Sulík, the Speaker of the Slovak Parliament, survived a no-confidence vote on Wednesday, September 8 with only 64 MPs voting in a secret ballot to remove Sulík, the TASR newswire reported.

Slovakia to hold its seventh referendum (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

THE SIX-QUESTION referendum initiated by the Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party that will be held on Saturday September 18 will be Slovakia’s seventh exercise of direct democracy. Like most of the preceding referenda, it is not expected to be valid because of insufficient voter turnout.

PREVIEW: Slovakia to vote in disputed parliamentary referendum (m&g, 2010)

Slovaks will head to the polls on Saturday to have the final say on controversial proposals to downsize the country's parliament from 150 to 100 delegates, cut the privileges of politicians, and abolish radio and television license fees.

Slovakia: Poll predicts referendum will fail (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

THE SIX-QUESTION referendum initiated by the Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party that will be held on Saturday, September 18 will be Slovakia’s seventh exercise in direct democracy

Vašáryová to be centre-right candidate for mayor of Bratislava (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

Slovakia’s main centre-right parties – the Slovak Christian and Democratic Union (SDKÚ), the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), Most-Híd and the Civic Democratic Party (OKS) – agreed on Tuesday, September 21, to cooperate in the November municipal elections.

Slota will have two challengers for SNS top job on Saturday (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

The leadership contest in the opposition Slovak National Party (SNS) being held this Saturday (September 25) will have three candidates. Party boss Ján Slota is running for re-election against his deputies Anna Belousovová and Dušan Švantner.

Results “are binding for politicians”, SaS chairman comments (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

In the end more than a million citizens went to the polls on Saturday. Nevertheless, this represented less than 23 percent of all registered voters and the referendum is officially not valid as a turnout over 50 percent is required for a plebiscite to be binding in Slovakia.

Slovakia: SNS re-elects Slota as chair (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

JÁN Slota will continue ruling the Slovak National Party (SNS) for another four years. He was re-elected to the post with 180 votes, about two-thirds of the delegates to the party’s congress, leaving his three challengers far behind and stirring debates about how internally democratic SNS is and what future awaits it with Slota as its leader.

New poll shows Smer remains as leading political party (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

The most recent poll by the Focus agency revealed that Robert Fico's Smer party would have drawn 39.7 percent support if a parliamentary election had been held in September, the TASR newswire reported.

Slota: Smer violated agreement with SNS on local elections (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

Smer has nominated a candidate for the mayoralty of Žilina, in northern Slovakia, despite an agreement with the Slovak National Party (SNS) that it would support its candidate, SNS chairman Ján Slota told the TASR newswire on Tuesday, September 28.

Slovakia: Municipal Election Campaign Officially Starts on Wednesday (Radio Slovakia International, 2010)

On municipal electoral campaign started on the 10th November 2010.

SaS nominees are not patrons, but founding members, says Sulík (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

On money donation for one of the leading parties of Slovakia.

Lech Walesa thanks Slovakia’s VPN for its struggle for democracy (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

Commemoration of the 21st anniversary of the Velvet Revolution in former Czechoslovakia.

Slovakia - VOTE: Municipal election campaign ends (The Slovak Spectator, 2010)

November 24 was the last official day for campaigning before Slovakia’s municipal elections.

Slovakia:Early elections announced for March 2012, The Slovak Spectator (2011)

Three parties from the former ruling coalition – the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and Most-Híd – have come to an agreement with the biggest parliamentary party, the opposition Smer, led by former PM Robert Fico. This agreement promises that the cabinet will propose a constitutional law to shorten the current election term in Slovakia, with an early election scheduled on March 10, 2012.

Getting out the vote among Slovaks abroad, The Slovak Spectator (2012)

Slovaks living abroad have to register to vote by mail for the parliamentary elections on March 10. Even though the system is criticized, Slovaks expatriates are encouraged to register for the elections and vote.

Protests Pressure Politicians in Slovakia, wsj (2012)

Slovaks protest against the government and the opposition alleging corruption. The accusations stem from wire-tap transcripts not yet verified by police. The organizers demand delaying of the March 10 parliamentary elections until the corruption allegations are investigated.

Slovak Poll Shows Smer Party Would Win Majority, TA3 Reports, bloomberg (2012)

According to a survey, Slovakia’s largest opposition party Smer would win a majority in parliamentary elections on March 10.

Slovakia’s official pre-election campaign starts, The Slovak Spectator (2012)

Twenty-six political parties registered by the Central Election Committee for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Slovakia start the official campaign in the broadcast media. The campaigning will continue up to and throughout the day of election.

ELECTION 2012: Slovaks living abroad send in their votes, the Slovak Spectator (2012)

Slovaks living abroad vote for the March 10 parliamentary elections. It is the third time that Slovaks have been allowed to vote from abroad.

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Left-Leaning Party Wins Slovakia Election, wsj (2012)

In Slovakia parliamentary elections Robert Fico's Smer-Social Democracy party won 83 of the 150 seats in the national assembly. It is the first time since independence in 1993 that a single party has received enough votes to govern on its own.

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