Elections bring Slovaks fresh hope of joining EU
General elections have boosted Slovak hopes of joining Nato and the European Union by leaving an authoritarian former prime minister with his worst showing ever.
Preliminary official results are expected today. Exit polls released late yesterday after two days of voting showed Vladimir Meciar’s party had little chance of making a strong comeback because he was rejected by potential coalition partners.
But the exit polls showed Mr Meciar could have the lion’s share of the vote with 16% to 17%, but without the coalition support he is doomed to an opposition role.
Prime minister Mikulas Dzurinda’s party exceeded expectations, according to the exit polls, and looked set to be one of the top three candidates with Mr Meciar and left-leaning Robert Fico.
Other parties have refused to work with Mr Meciar partly because of Western warnings that Slovakia would miss out on joining Nato and the EU if he is in charge.
The polls suggested formation of a new centre-right oriented government - comprised of three parties now in Cabinet, preferably with Pavol Rusko’s centre-right ANO.
“The preliminary results show that it will be possible to create a government out of democratic parties that don’t raise questions abroad about Slovakia’s commitment to democracy," said Mr Dzurinda.
“We won’t negotiate with the HZDS” – Mr Meciar’s party – on forming a new government, he said later.
The exit polls also unexpectedly showed the Communists surpassing the 5% mark needed to get into parliament, likely making it the only party there to hold a fierce anti-Nato stand.
Mr Dzurinda improved the image of the Slovakia he inherited from Mr Meciar, with reforms that erased decades of communist rule, bringing it to the threshold of Nato and closer to EU membership.
Estimated turnout was at more 70%.
Slovak President Rudolf Schuster planned to meet with party officials tomorrow to hear their proposals on a future government.
