Slovak parliamentary election, 2006

Infobox Election
election_name = Slovak parliamentary election, 2006
country = Slovakia
type = parliamentary
ongoing = no
previous_election = Slovak parliamentary election, 2002
previous_year = 2002
next_election = Slovak parliamentary election, 2010
next_year = 2010
seats_for_election = All 150 seats to the Národná rada
election_date = June 17, 2006


leader1 = Robert Fico
party1 = Direction – Social Democracy
leaders_seat1 =
last_election1 = 25 seats
seats1 = 50
seat_change1 = +25
popular_vote1 = 671.185
percentage1 = 29.14%


leader2 = Mikuláš Dzurinda
party2 = Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party
leaders_seat2 =
last_election2 = 28 seats
seats2 = 31
seat_change2 = +3
popular_vote2 = 422.815
percentage2 = 18.35%

title = PM
before_election = Mikuláš Dzurinda
before_party = Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party
after_election = Robert Fico
after_party = Direction – Social Democracy

The 2006 parliamentary elections in Slovakia took place on Saturday June 17, 2006. The voters selected 150 representatives for the National Council of the Slovak Republic. The highest number of seats, 50, was won by left-wing party Direction - Social Democracy lead by Robert Fico. In total, six parties have achieved 5 percent threshold necessary to secure seats in the National Council. In order to form a new government, Robert Fico will have to find coalition partners among other parties.

Originally the election was planned to occur on September 16, 2006. On February 8, the government proposed to call an early election after the Christian Democratic Movement left the coalition government. This proposal was passed by the Parliament on February 9 and signed by the President on February 13. Slovak citizens living abroad could for the first time participate in the Slovak election by absentee ballots.

Parties participating in the election

The following political parties were running in the election: [http://www.statistics.sk/nrsr_2006/angl/info/strany.jsp]

# Left-wing Bloc (Ľavicový blok)
# Party of Civil Solidarity (Strana občianskej solidarity)
# Mission 21 - New Christian Democracy (Misia 21 - Nová kresťanská demokracia)
# Party of the Democratic Left (Strana demokratickej ľavice)
# Union of the Workers of Slovakia (Združenie robotníkov Slovenska)
# Christian Democratic Movement (Kresťanskodemokratické hnutie)
# Slovak National Coalition - Slovak Mutuality (Slovenská národná koalícia - Slovenská vzájomnosť)
# Alliance of the New Citizen (Aliancia Nového Občana)
# Movement for Democracy (Hnutie za demokraciu)
# Party of the Hungarian Coalition (Strana maďarskej koalície - Magyar Koalíció Pártja)
# Free Forum (Slobodné fórum)
# Civic Conservative Party (Občianska konzervatívna strana)
# Prosperita Slovenska
# People's Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (Ľudová strana - Hnutie za demokratické Slovensko)
# Agrarian Party of the Provinces (Agrárna strana vidieka)
# Communist Party of Slovakia (Komunistická strana Slovenska)
# Slovak People's Party (Slovenská ľudová strana)
# Slovak Democratic and Christian Union - Democratic Party (Slovenská demokratická a kresťanská únia - Demokratická strana)
# Direction - Social Democracy (SMER - sociálna demokracia)
# Slovak National Party (Slovenská národná strana)
# HOPE - NÁDEJ

Election Results

Formation of the government

Based on the mandates secured, and given that 76 seats are required to form a majority government, the following government combinations were among the most likely: [http://www.slovakspectator.sk/clanok.asp?cl=23670]

*Smer+SNS+HZDS = 85 seats
*Smer+SMK+KDH = 84 seats
*Smer+SNS+KDH = 84 seats
*Smer+SDKU = 81 seats
*SDKU+SMK+HZDS+KDH = 80 seats

On June 28, Robert Fico, the leader of the winning party announced that the government coalition will consist of his Direction - Social Democracy and two partners: Slovak National Party and People's Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia. The Party of European Socialists criticized this decision because of nationalist statements of the leader of the Slovak National Party and subsequently suspended Smer's membership. On July 4, Fico became Prime Minister.

External links

* [http://www.electoralgeography.com/en/countries/s/slovakia/2006-legislative-elections-slovakia.html Electoral Geography]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5089656.stm BBC coverage of election results]