Democratic Party (Slovakia)
Encyclopedia
The Democratic Party was a political party
in Slovakia
. When it was founded in late 1989 (Velvet Revolution
), it saw itself a continuation of the historical Democratic Party.
The historical Democratic Party arose in 1944 during the Slovak National Uprising
as a party for all non-Communist participants (i.e. the counterpart of the Communist Party of Slovakia
). In the 1946 elections in Czechoslovakia
, the party won as much as 62% of votes in Slovakia, but was liquidated in 1947-1948 by the Communists, who had a majority in the central government in Prague (because as opposed to Slovakia, it was the Communists who won the 1946 elections in Czechia). The rest of the party was transformed into the pseudo-party (see National Front (Czechoslovakia)
) Party of Slovak Revival
(Strana slovenskej obrody).
In December 1989, i.e. at the end of the Velvet Revolution
, a new Democratic Party was created by transformation of the Party of Slovak Revival. It won 7 seats out of 150 in the Slovak parliament (Slovak National Council
) and no seats in the federal parliament in 1990, but no seats in any parliament in 1992.
In 1994, the party was "recreated" by a merge with the parties:
The new chairman of the party was P. Hagyari, and the vice-chairman was Ivan Mikloš
, the current finance minister of Slovakia.
In the 1994 parliamentary election, the party run for parliamentary seats together with the Strana podnikateľov a živnostníkov (Party of Entrepreneurs and businessmen), but again won no seats. Hagyari was replaced by Ján Langoš
, the former minister of the interior of Czechoslovakia, in 1995.
In the 1998 election, the party run for parliamentary seats within the coalition (later party) Slovak Democratic Coalition
(SDK), so that many candidates of the Democratic Party got into the parliament as candidates of the SDK. In the course of the subsequent dissolution of the Slovak Democratic Coalition in 2001, some members left the Democratic Party (Ivan Mikloš, for example, became a chairman of the newly founded Slovak Democratic and Christian Union), and František Šebej became the new chairman for short time and was quickly replaced by Ľudovít Kaník
.
In the 2002 election, the party run for parliamentary seats together with the parties Civic Conservative Party
(OKS, led by Ján Langoš
) and Liberal-Democratic Union (LDÚ, led by Ján Budaj), both of which arose in the course of the dissolution of the SDK. Shortly before the election however the party withdraw its candidature and recommended its voters to vote for the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) of Mikuláš Dzurinda
. This was due to an agreement with the SDKÚ, according to which Ľudovít Kaník, the chairman of the Democratic Party, received one seat in the new 2002 government - the seat of the minister of social affairs and family. After a scandal, however, Kaník left the government in October 2005 and talks about a merge of the Democratic Party with the SDKÚ were announced.
The extraordinary party congress held on December 17, 2005 approved that the party be merged with the SDKÚ (whose name will change to SDKÚ-DS). The merger was approved by a SDKÚ congress held on January 21, 2006.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
. When it was founded in late 1989 (Velvet Revolution
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
), it saw itself a continuation of the historical Democratic Party.
The historical Democratic Party arose in 1944 during the Slovak National Uprising
Slovak National Uprising
The Slovak National Uprising or 1944 Uprising was an armed insurrection organized by the Slovak resistance movement during World War II. It was launched on August 29 1944 from Banská Bystrica in an attempt to overthrow the collaborationist Slovak State of Jozef Tiso...
as a party for all non-Communist participants (i.e. the counterpart of the Communist Party of Slovakia
Communist Party of Slovakia
The Communist Party of Slovakia is a communist party in Slovakia, formed in 1992, through the merger of the Communist Party of Slovakia – 91 and the Communist League of Slovakia.According to Luboš Blaha the KSS supported the government of Robert Fico....
). In the 1946 elections in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovak parliamentary election, 1946
Parliamentary elections were held in Czechoslovakia on 26 May 1946. The result was a victory for the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, which won 93 of the 300 seats. Voter turnout was 93.9%.-Background:...
, the party won as much as 62% of votes in Slovakia, but was liquidated in 1947-1948 by the Communists, who had a majority in the central government in Prague (because as opposed to Slovakia, it was the Communists who won the 1946 elections in Czechia). The rest of the party was transformed into the pseudo-party (see National Front (Czechoslovakia)
National Front (Czechoslovakia)
The National Front was the coalition of parties which headed the re-established Czechoslovakian government from 1945 to 1948. During the Communist era in Czechoslovakia it was the vehicle for control of all political and social activity by the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia...
) Party of Slovak Revival
Party of Slovak Revival
Party of Slovak Revival was a political party founded in 1948 by pro-Communist members of the Slovak Democratic Party. It was accepted into the Czechoslovak National Front and got 17 seats in the Slovak parliament...
(Strana slovenskej obrody).
In December 1989, i.e. at the end of the Velvet Revolution
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
, a new Democratic Party was created by transformation of the Party of Slovak Revival. It won 7 seats out of 150 in the Slovak parliament (Slovak National Council
Slovak National Council
The Slovak National Council is the name of different types of supreme bodies in the history of Slovakia. They existed within the Kingdom of Hungary, Czechoslovakia or the Slovak Republic or were bodies of Slovak exiles:...
) and no seats in the federal parliament in 1990, but no seats in any parliament in 1992.
In 1994, the party was "recreated" by a merge with the parties:
- Občiansko-demokratická únia (ODÚ, Civic Democratic Union, i.e. the remnants of the former Public Against ViolencePublic Against ViolenceThe Public Against Violence was a political movement that was established in Bratislava, Slovakia on 20 November 1989. It was the Slovak counterpart of the Czech Civic Forum ....
party) - Občianska demokratická strana Slovenska (Civic Democratic Party of Slovakia)
- Demokrati 92 (Democrats 92)
- Hnutie česko-slovenského porozumenia (Movement of Czech-Slovak comprehension)
- Zelená liga (The Green League)
The new chairman of the party was P. Hagyari, and the vice-chairman was Ivan Mikloš
Ivan Mikloš
Ivan Mikloš is the incumbent Minister of Finance of Slovakia, appointed on July 9, 2010. He previously served as Slovakia's Minister of Finance from 2002 to 2006 and Deputy Prime Minister for Economy between 1998 and 2002....
, the current finance minister of Slovakia.
In the 1994 parliamentary election, the party run for parliamentary seats together with the Strana podnikateľov a živnostníkov (Party of Entrepreneurs and businessmen), but again won no seats. Hagyari was replaced by Ján Langoš
Ján Langoš
Ján Langoš was a Slovak politician associated with the Democratic Party...
, the former minister of the interior of Czechoslovakia, in 1995.
In the 1998 election, the party run for parliamentary seats within the coalition (later party) Slovak Democratic Coalition
Slovak Democratic Coalition
The Slovak Democratic Coalition was a political party in Slovakia, which existed from 1998 to 2002.-SDK coalition:The SDK was founded on 3 July 1997 as an electoral coalition, from the five political parties, namely Democratic Union, Christian Democratic Movement, Democratic Party, Social...
(SDK), so that many candidates of the Democratic Party got into the parliament as candidates of the SDK. In the course of the subsequent dissolution of the Slovak Democratic Coalition in 2001, some members left the Democratic Party (Ivan Mikloš, for example, became a chairman of the newly founded Slovak Democratic and Christian Union), and František Šebej became the new chairman for short time and was quickly replaced by Ľudovít Kaník
Ľudovít Kaník
Ľudovít Kaník is a Slovak politician and member of the Democratic Party of Slovakia.Kaník was formerly the Minister of Labour, Social Affairs, and Family.- External links :*...
.
In the 2002 election, the party run for parliamentary seats together with the parties Civic Conservative Party
Civic Conservative Party
The Civic Conservative Party , abbreviated to OKS, is a centre-right liberal conservative political party in Slovakia. It has four seats in the National Council, which it won in an electoral alliance with Most–Híd at the 2010 election, and the party's four MPs sit in the Most–Híd parliamentary...
(OKS, led by Ján Langoš
Ján Langoš
Ján Langoš was a Slovak politician associated with the Democratic Party...
) and Liberal-Democratic Union (LDÚ, led by Ján Budaj), both of which arose in the course of the dissolution of the SDK. Shortly before the election however the party withdraw its candidature and recommended its voters to vote for the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ) of Mikuláš Dzurinda
Mikuláš Dzurinda
Mikuláš Dzurinda is a Slovak politician who was Prime Minister of Slovakia from 30 October 1998 to 4 July 2006. He was a founder and leader of the Slovak Democratic Coalition and the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union...
. This was due to an agreement with the SDKÚ, according to which Ľudovít Kaník, the chairman of the Democratic Party, received one seat in the new 2002 government - the seat of the minister of social affairs and family. After a scandal, however, Kaník left the government in October 2005 and talks about a merge of the Democratic Party with the SDKÚ were announced.
The extraordinary party congress held on December 17, 2005 approved that the party be merged with the SDKÚ (whose name will change to SDKÚ-DS). The merger was approved by a SDKÚ congress held on January 21, 2006.