13 June 2004
14 seats
Electoral system: proportional representation; threshold of 5%
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.
The centre-left list is composed of the SMER and the democratic left (SDL), the social democrats (SDSS) and the greens (SZS). This coalition brings together the opposition parties. Monica Benova (36), SMER MP, vice-chair of the party and MEP since 1 May heads the list, which includes Milos Koterec, a diplomat and vice-chairman of the Slovak delegation in NATO; - Vladimir Manka, SDL mayor of Zvolen and vice-chairman of the democratic left; - Boris Zala (50), SMER, techer of political science; - Bohumil Hanzel (46), SMER, a manager; - Juraj Blanar, SMER; - Jaroslav Riha, SDSS; - Andrea Zahumenska, SZS.
The LS-HZDS, Movement for a Democratic Slovakia, if it obtains any seats 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 of 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, the 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 notably includes Rudolf Ziak (49), an outgoing MEP who could join a group such as the Union for a Europe of Nations.