Brussels, 11/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - Preferential voting is one of the elements that characterises the way the electoral system in the Slovak Republic works. It will be possible to choose a candidate on the ballot sheet but that candidate must have 10% of the votes attributed to his/her list. This condition has even less chance of being met as the best known candidates already hold the first places on each list. Thus, Peter Stastny, ice hockey champion, heads the SKDU list (Conservative right), and Eva Cerna, audiovisual journalist, is in second position on the ANO list (Liberals). The other well-known contenders are mainly known for the political positions they hold. Nine lists have been formed for fourteen Slovak seats at the EP. Since 1 May, observers at the EP have become full members until the June elections but some will not be running (Paul Kubovic, Petra Masacova, Zuzana Martinakova, Jan Figel, Laszlo Nagy, Robert Fico, Jozef Sevc and Viliam Veteska).
The elections could draw a good turnout unlike the legislative elections, was the view expressed by Peter Zsapka, Slovakian political pundit working at the European Policy Centre in Bratislava. A recent poll confirmed these assumptions predicting that only one third of voters would turn out to vote. Furthermore, very few information campaigns have been launched to explain the importance of these elections. "Slovakian voters do not have the experience of European elections and, because of this, it is the personalities rather than the political parties who are likely to gain the attention of most voters", another Slovakian political analyst, Lubos Kubin, said.
The study on the forecast results of the European elections in June 2004 by Simon Hix and Michael Marsh (see EUROPE of 14/04/04, page 6) predicts that the SMER in Slovakia will gain 5 seats. This centre-left list is made up of the SMER and the Democratic Left (SDL), Social Democrats (SDSS) and Greens (SZS). The coalition groups the opposition parties. The SMER list appears among the most popular, according to polls carried out with a view to the European elections. The list is made up of: - at the head of the list Monica Benova (aged 36), SMER deputy, vice-president of the party, and MEP since 1 May 2004; - followed by Milos Koterec, diplomat, vice-president of the Slovakian delegation with NATO; - Vladimir Manka, SDL Mayor of the town of Zvolen, vice president of the Democratic Left Party; - Boris Zala (50), SMER, professor in political sciences; - Bohumil Hanzel (46), SMER, manager; - Juraj Blanar, SMER; - Jaroslav Riha, SDSS; - and Andrea Zahumenska, SZS.
Ranking in second position in the polls is the LS-HZDS, Movement for a Democratic Slovakia, which, if it obtains any seats (two according to a survey by Hix and Marsh), will be among the non-attached. Heading the list is Sergej Kozlik (54), national MP and European MEP, economist, former deputy prime minister and finance minister within Vladimir Meciar's government. He is followed by: - Peter Baco, former agriculture minister; - Irena Belohorska (56), doctor in medicine, former health minister and currently national deputy and member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; - Diana Dubovska (31), deputy, economist; - and Ivana Kapralikova.
The SDKU is also expected to acquire two seats, still according to the Hix and Marsh study. This Slovak and Christian Democratic Union is the party under Prime Minister Dzurinda. The Conservative Party is the only one to have placed at the head of the list a candidate who is popular but inexperienced. The candidate in question is Peter Stastny (47), world ice hockey champion, whose candidature was criticised and who has defended himself in these terms: "I believe I have enough talent and experience to serve at this post with responsibility, honesty and efficiency". In second place, there is Milan Gala (51), deputy, dentist; - and Zita Plestinska; - Jan Hurny, regional development minister; - Viliam Novotny (31), deputy, doctor in medicine; - Tomas Galbavy (46), deputy; - Viera Markova, university professor; - and Marius Hricovsky, lawyer and economist.
On the KDH list (Christian Democrat movement), there are: Deputy Anna Zaborska (56), who is also MEP and doctor in medicine, who heads the list likely to join the EPP-ED Group. She is followed by: - Miroslav Mikolasik, doctor in medicine and former ambassador of the Slovak Republic in Canada; - Jan Hudacky, director of a regional information centre and council for entrepreneurs; - Jan Vanco (29), the party's regional secretary since 2003; - Jan Morovic, professor at the Catholic university of Ruzomberok and adviser with the Ministry of Agriculture since 1998; - and Mistina Timotei (60), engineer.
SMK-MKP (Coalition of Hungarian Parties) is tabling on two seats, or three at most, according to the party's secretary, Gabriel Klenovics. The list is among three major parties to have nominated a women at the head of the list.
Edit Bauer (58), deputy and former secretary of State at the Ministry of Social Affairs heads the list, backed by: - Jozsef Berenyi (37), secretary of State to the Foreign Ministry; - Arpad Duka-Zolyomi (63), deputy, the only one during 2002 legislative elections to win enough preferential votes to enter Parliament; - Gabor Klenovics (26), economist; - Peter Toth (47), deputy, pedagogical adviser at the University; and - Attila Lancz (28), parliamentary assistant.
The ANQ (Alliance for new citizens) is the fourth party in the government and presents a list headed by Jozef Heriban (51), deputy. Then, there are: - Eva Cerna (41), deputy, TV journalist; - Katarina Gloncakova-Golev (26), vice-president of the party; - Ivan Radosa (41), economist; and - Iveta Henzelyova (41), deputy and teacher; - Peter Matula (29), spokesman for the party and president of Slovakia's Liberal Youth; - and Maria Simkova (39), teacher and business woman.
KSS communists are expected to gather over 5% of votes. They rank fifth in the polls. Karol Fajnor (50) heads the list. He is deputy at the national parliament and unsuccessful candidate as mayor of Bratislava. Then come: - Jan Husar (34), technician; - Karol Ondrias (52), deputy; - Michal Zozulak (64), sociologist; - Anna Bilioska (42), economist. In ninth position is Mohamed Salha (49), a Palestinian born in Syria.
The Slobodne Forum (Free Forum) is a Conservative party which had been attached to the SDKU but which then broke away from it for these elections. In the case of victory at the elections, however, the list could, like the SDKU, join the EPP-ED Group . The list is made up of: - Ivan Simko (49), deputy and MEP; - Michal Cehlar, university professor; - Petra Cancova, teacher; - Rudolf Lesnak, director general at the Defence Ministry.
The Ludovia Unia list was composed of two candidates until 6 May but the head of the list, Olga Keltosova, former HZDS vice-president, has decided not to run for these elections. Rudolf Ziak (49), MEP, seems, however, determined to continue with the campaign on his own for now. If elected, he would join the Union for a Europe of Nations Group.