Slovak parliamentary election, 2010
Encyclopedia
A parliamentary election took place in Slovakia
on 12 June 2010. The elections were contested by eighteen parties, six of which passed the 5% threshold for sitting in parliament. Despite the incumbent Smer of Prime Minister Robert Fico
winning a plurality, the new government consisted of a coalition led by the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party's Iveta Radičová
and included KDH, SaS and Most-Hid. However, her government fell on 11 October 2011 following a vote of no confidence with a new election
called for 10 March 2012.
Polls in February 2010 had indicated that the current governing party Smer-SD (Direction – Social Democracy) would win a plurality with a margin of 25%. However the five opposition right-wing parties – the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ-DS), the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), the Party of the Hungarian Coalition (SMK-MKP
), Most–Híd
, and Freedom and Solidarity (SaS
) – could together gain a majority. There were conflicting reports during the campaign as to whether some of these parties would consider joining with Fico. During pre-election campaigning, reports indicated that the "Christian Democrats and the two ethnic Hungarian parties had not ruled out working with Fico." Rumours were reported that prime minister Robert Fico
might have secretly agreed not to enter a coalition with the Slovak nationalists again, unless he had no other choice. A later poll by of the Czech News Agency
suggested that the governing coalition would lose its majority, and that one of Fico's allies (HZDS) would struggle with the 5% barrier.
According to a poll of the Institute of public affairs (IVO) the voter participation will be about 50 to 60%.
's Direction – Social Democracy (Smer) party increased its seat share by 12 to 62. However, Fico is unlikely to remain prime minister as his coalition partners in the People's Party – Movement for a Democratic Slovakia lost all 15 of their seats and the Slovak National Party barely passed the 5% vote threshold required for parliamentary representation while losing 11 of their 20 seats. Despite the setback, Fico said that he wanted to try to form a cabinet even though his leftist coalition could only command 71 of the 150 parliament seats and would thus force the need for at least one of the opposing centre-right parties. This has been described as an unlikely, but possible, occurrence, because opposition parties stated during the election that they would not enter government with Fico. One analyst said that he "strictly rule[d] out that any of the centre-right parties could team up with Smer."
The Slovakian President, Ivan Gasparovic
, asked Fico to attempt to form a government stating that "I believe that the party that won such support from the people deserves the chance."
The second placed Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party had coalition talks with the Christian Democratic Movement
, Freedom and Solidarity
and Most–Híd
. On 16 June it was reported that the four opposition parties which had won seats in the parliament had agreed to form a government under the leadership of Radičová.
An agreement on the distribution of ministries was reached on 28 June 2010. Radičová was then sworn in as PM on 8 July 2010, after her coalition (comprising SDKU, KDH, SaS and Most-Hid) secured a majority of 79 seats in the 150-seat parliament and Fico and his cabinet tendered their resignations. The new government pledged to cut state spending and the budget deficit and to attract more foreign investment, while steering clear of tax rises. "We are ready to take responsibility over the country at a time when it is coping with the impact of a deep economic crisis and the irresponsible decisions of our political predecessors." They have also sought, through Most-Hid, to rebuild links with Hungary that were badly damaged by the adoption of contentious language and citizenship laws.
country, should not bailout richer countries such as Greece and for bank re-capitalisation. As Slovakia was the last eurozone country to vote on the measure, Radičová made it a no confidence vote. The measure then failed by 21 votes after both Freedom and Solidarity and Smer abstained. However, another vote was expected with Smer rumoured to support it should there be a new election and more stringent terms. Smer came to an agreemet with the governing coalition to support the measure in what Fico called "the most important document of this period." He also explained the first round rejection of the measure as "saying 'no' to a rightist government, but we're saying 'yes' to the rescue fund." As per the agreement between the two parties Minister Mikulas Dzurinda
said that a snap election
has been called: "We decided that as the first point of [Thursday's] parliamentary session, we will work on a proposal to shorten the voting period, with the goal of organising an election
on 10 March. Immediately after [13 October or 14 October] we will debate proposals related to the EFSF."
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...
on 12 June 2010. The elections were contested by eighteen parties, six of which passed the 5% threshold for sitting in parliament. Despite the incumbent Smer of Prime Minister Robert Fico
Robert Fico
Robert Fico served as the Prime Minister of Slovakia from July 4, 2006 to July 8, 2010.He is the leader of the left-wing party Direction – Social Democracy . The party won the parliamentary elections in 2006, receiving approximately 30 percent of the cast votes...
winning a plurality, the new government consisted of a coalition led by the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party's Iveta Radičová
Iveta Radicová
Iveta Radičová is the Prime Minister of Slovakia and a member of the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party. She was sworn into office on 8 July 2010 as the head of a four-party center-right coalition government following the 2010 Slovak parliamentary election, until the fall of...
and included KDH, SaS and Most-Hid. However, her government fell on 11 October 2011 following a vote of no confidence with a new election
Slovak parliamentary election, 2012
A parliamentary election will take place in Slovakia on 10 March 2012. The election follows the fall of Prime Minister Iveta Radičová's Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party-led coalition in October 2011 over a no confidence vote her government failed because of its support for...
called for 10 March 2012.
Background
A total of 2,401 candidates applied to contest the 150 seats.Polls in February 2010 had indicated that the current governing party Smer-SD (Direction – Social Democracy) would win a plurality with a margin of 25%. However the five opposition right-wing parties – the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ-DS), the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), the Party of the Hungarian Coalition (SMK-MKP
Party of the Hungarian Coalition
The Party of the Hungarian Coalition, officially registered under the compound name Strana maďarskej koalície – Magyar Koalíció Pártja, is a political party in Slovakia, for the ethnic Hungarian minority...
), Most–Híd
Most–Híd
Most–Híd is a centre-right political party in Slovakia. Its programme calls for greater cooperation between the country's Hungarian minority and ethnic Slovaks...
, and Freedom and Solidarity (SaS
Freedom and Solidarity
Freedom and Solidarity , abbreviated to SaS, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Slovakia. The party was established in 2009 and is led by its founder, the economist Richard Sulík, who designed Slovakia's flat tax system...
) – could together gain a majority. There were conflicting reports during the campaign as to whether some of these parties would consider joining with Fico. During pre-election campaigning, reports indicated that the "Christian Democrats and the two ethnic Hungarian parties had not ruled out working with Fico." Rumours were reported that prime minister Robert Fico
Robert Fico
Robert Fico served as the Prime Minister of Slovakia from July 4, 2006 to July 8, 2010.He is the leader of the left-wing party Direction – Social Democracy . The party won the parliamentary elections in 2006, receiving approximately 30 percent of the cast votes...
might have secretly agreed not to enter a coalition with the Slovak nationalists again, unless he had no other choice. A later poll by of the Czech News Agency
Czech News Agency
The Czech News Agency , abbreviated to ČTK, is a national "public law" news agency in the Czech Republic. It publishes in Czech, Slovak, and English....
suggested that the governing coalition would lose its majority, and that one of Fico's allies (HZDS) would struggle with the 5% barrier.
List of parties
Below is the list of parties participating in 2010 Slovak parliamentary election- European Democratic Party
- Union – Party for Slovakia
- Party of the Roma Coalition
- Paliho Kapurková, Cheerful Political Party
- Freedom and SolidarityFreedom and SolidarityFreedom and Solidarity , abbreviated to SaS, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Slovakia. The party was established in 2009 and is led by its founder, the economist Richard Sulík, who designed Slovakia's flat tax system...
- Party of the Democratic LeftParty of the Democratic Left (2005)The Party of the Democratic Left , abbreviated to SDĽ, is a centre-left political party in Slovakia. It is the reformation of another party by the same name, which had been founded in 1990....
- Party of the Hungarian CoalitionParty of the Hungarian CoalitionThe Party of the Hungarian Coalition, officially registered under the compound name Strana maďarskej koalície – Magyar Koalíció Pártja, is a political party in Slovakia, for the ethnic Hungarian minority...
- People's Party – Movement for a Democratic Slovakia
- Communist Party of SlovakiaCommunist Party of SlovakiaThe 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....
- Slovak National Party
- New DemocracyNew Democracy (Slovakia)The New Democracy , abbreviated to ND , is a political party in Slovakia, currently out of the parliament. It split out from the People's Party – Movement for a Democratic Slovakia and its current leader is Tibor Mikuš, chairman of the Trnava self-governing region. It was registered at Interior...
- Union of the Workers of SlovakiaUnion of the Workers of Slovakia-History:The ZRS split from the Party of the Democratic Left in 1994. In the Slovak parliamentary election in 1994 the party gained 7,34 % of the votes an 13 seats in parliament. Although calling themselves "agrarian-left" the deputies entered the coalition of the gaullist-christ democrat People's...
- Christian Democratic MovementChristian Democratic MovementThe Christian Democratic Movement is a political party in Slovakia.It is represented in the parliament. It was also member of the government coalition, but it left that coalition on 7 February 2006 due to disputes over an international treaty between Slovakia and the Holy See dealing with the...
- People's Party – Our Slovakia
- Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party
- AZEN – Alliance for Europe of the Nations
- Direction – Social Democracy
- Most–HídMost–HídMost–Híd is a centre-right political party in Slovakia. Its programme calls for greater cooperation between the country's Hungarian minority and ethnic Slovaks...
Campaign
During the parliamentary elections the SDKÚ-DS ran on a platform of fiscal discipline and pledging to reinvigorate the economy after it suffered a 4.7 percent decrease in growth in 2009.Polls
According to research agency Focus, in May 2010, eight parties would cross the 5% border needed for participation in parliament.| Party | January 2010 | February 2010 | March 2010 | April 2010 | May 2010 | June 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direction – Social Democracy | 41.4% | 38.6% | 38.4% | 36.8% | 35.3% | 29.5% |
| Slovak National Party | 6.2% | 6.2% | 6.3% | 8.6% | 6.1% | 7.7% |
| People's Party – Movement for a Democratic Slovakia | 6.5% | 5.8% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.1% | 5% |
| Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party | 15.2% | 11.3% | 14.3% | 13.6% | 14% | 12.1% |
| Freedom and Solidarity Freedom and Solidarity Freedom and Solidarity , abbreviated to SaS, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Slovakia. The party was established in 2009 and is led by its founder, the economist Richard Sulík, who designed Slovakia's flat tax system... |
5.1% | 9.6% | 8.6% | 11.5% | 13.3% | 12.4% |
| Christian Democratic Movement Christian Democratic Movement The Christian Democratic Movement is a political party in Slovakia.It is represented in the parliament. It was also member of the government coalition, but it left that coalition on 7 February 2006 due to disputes over an international treaty between Slovakia and the Holy See dealing with the... |
9.0% | 9.6% | 9.7% | 8.6% | 8.3% | 9.2% |
| Most–Híd Most–Híd Most–Híd is a centre-right political party in Slovakia. Its programme calls for greater cooperation between the country's Hungarian minority and ethnic Slovaks... |
5.2% | 5.6% | 6.9% | 5.1% | 5.6% | 6.5% |
| Party of the Hungarian Coalition Party of the Hungarian Coalition The Party of the Hungarian Coalition, officially registered under the compound name Strana maďarskej koalície – Magyar Koalíció Pártja, is a political party in Slovakia, for the ethnic Hungarian minority... |
5.6% | 5.1% | 5.2% | 5.1% | 5.9% | 5.2% |
According to a poll of the Institute of public affairs (IVO) the voter participation will be about 50 to 60%.
New government
Incumbent Prime Minister Robert FicoRobert Fico
Robert Fico served as the Prime Minister of Slovakia from July 4, 2006 to July 8, 2010.He is the leader of the left-wing party Direction – Social Democracy . The party won the parliamentary elections in 2006, receiving approximately 30 percent of the cast votes...
's Direction – Social Democracy (Smer) party increased its seat share by 12 to 62. However, Fico is unlikely to remain prime minister as his coalition partners in the People's Party – Movement for a Democratic Slovakia lost all 15 of their seats and the Slovak National Party barely passed the 5% vote threshold required for parliamentary representation while losing 11 of their 20 seats. Despite the setback, Fico said that he wanted to try to form a cabinet even though his leftist coalition could only command 71 of the 150 parliament seats and would thus force the need for at least one of the opposing centre-right parties. This has been described as an unlikely, but possible, occurrence, because opposition parties stated during the election that they would not enter government with Fico. One analyst said that he "strictly rule[d] out that any of the centre-right parties could team up with Smer."
The Slovakian President, Ivan Gasparovic
Ivan Gašparovic
Ivan Gašparovič is a Slovak politician and law professor who has been the President of Slovakia since 15 June 2004. He is also the first Slovak president to be re-elected.-Biography:...
, asked Fico to attempt to form a government stating that "I believe that the party that won such support from the people deserves the chance."
The second placed Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party had coalition talks with the Christian Democratic Movement
Christian Democratic Movement
The Christian Democratic Movement is a political party in Slovakia.It is represented in the parliament. It was also member of the government coalition, but it left that coalition on 7 February 2006 due to disputes over an international treaty between Slovakia and the Holy See dealing with the...
, Freedom and Solidarity
Freedom and Solidarity
Freedom and Solidarity , abbreviated to SaS, is a centre-right classical liberal political party in Slovakia. The party was established in 2009 and is led by its founder, the economist Richard Sulík, who designed Slovakia's flat tax system...
and Most–Híd
Most–Híd
Most–Híd is a centre-right political party in Slovakia. Its programme calls for greater cooperation between the country's Hungarian minority and ethnic Slovaks...
. On 16 June it was reported that the four opposition parties which had won seats in the parliament had agreed to form a government under the leadership of Radičová.
An agreement on the distribution of ministries was reached on 28 June 2010. Radičová was then sworn in as PM on 8 July 2010, after her coalition (comprising SDKU, KDH, SaS and Most-Hid) secured a majority of 79 seats in the 150-seat parliament and Fico and his cabinet tendered their resignations. The new government pledged to cut state spending and the budget deficit and to attract more foreign investment, while steering clear of tax rises. "We are ready to take responsibility over the country at a time when it is coping with the impact of a deep economic crisis and the irresponsible decisions of our political predecessors." They have also sought, through Most-Hid, to rebuild links with Hungary that were badly damaged by the adoption of contentious language and citizenship laws.
Fall of government
On 11 October, parliament voted to approve the expansion of the European Financial Stability Fund on the grounds, according to the Freedom and Solidarity, that Slovakia, the second poorest eurozoneEurozone
The eurozone , officially called the euro area, is an economic and monetary union of seventeen European Union member states that have adopted the euro as their common currency and sole legal tender...
country, should not bailout richer countries such as Greece and for bank re-capitalisation. As Slovakia was the last eurozone country to vote on the measure, Radičová made it a no confidence vote. The measure then failed by 21 votes after both Freedom and Solidarity and Smer abstained. However, another vote was expected with Smer rumoured to support it should there be a new election and more stringent terms. Smer came to an agreemet with the governing coalition to support the measure in what Fico called "the most important document of this period." He also explained the first round rejection of the measure as "saying 'no' to a rightist government, but we're saying 'yes' to the rescue fund." As per the agreement between the two parties Minister Mikulas 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...
said that a snap election
Snap election
A snap election is an election called earlier than expected. Generally it refers to an election in a parliamentary system called when not required , usually to capitalize on a unique electoral opportunity or to decide a pressing issue...
has been called: "We decided that as the first point of [Thursday's] parliamentary session, we will work on a proposal to shorten the voting period, with the goal of organising an election
Slovak parliamentary election, 2012
A parliamentary election will take place in Slovakia on 10 March 2012. The election follows the fall of Prime Minister Iveta Radičová's Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party-led coalition in October 2011 over a no confidence vote her government failed because of its support for...
on 10 March. Immediately after [13 October or 14 October] we will debate proposals related to the EFSF."
External links
- Slovak Election Data Project
- NSD: European Election Database – Slovakia publishes regional level election data (NUTS 1–3); allows for comparisons of election results, 1990–2010