1998 Slovak parliamentary election explained

Country:Slovakia
Type:parliamentary
Previous Election:1994 Slovak parliamentary election
Previous Year:1994
Next Election:2002 Slovak parliamentary election
Next Year:2002
Seats For Election:All 150 seats in the National Council
Majority Seats:76
Election Date:25–26 September 1998
Turnout:84.25% (0.08 pp)
Image1:Vladimir Meciar (cropped).jpg
Leader1:Vladimír Mečiar
Party1:Movement for a Democratic Slovakia
Last Election1:61 seats, 35.0%
Seats1:43
Seat Change1: 18
Popular Vote1:907,103
Percentage1:27.0%
Swing1: 8.0 pp
Leader2:Mikuláš Dzurinda
Party2:Christian Democratic Movement
Alliance2:Slovak Democratic Coalition
Last Election2:32 seats, 22.1%
Seats2:42
Seat Change2: 10
Popular Vote2:884,497
Percentage2:26.3%
Swing2: 4.2 pp
Image3:Jozef Migaš at Rhodes Forum 2014 (cropped).jpg
Leader3:Jozef Migaš
Party3:Party of the Democratic Left (Slovakia)
Last Election3:18
Seats3:23
Seat Change3: 5
Popular Vote3:492,507
Percentage3:14.7%
Swing3: 4.3 pp
Image4:Béla Bugár (cropped).jpg
Leader4:Béla Bugár
Party4:Party of the Hungarian Community
Last Election4:17 seats, 10.2%
Seats4:15
Seat Change4: 2
Popular Vote4:306,623
Percentage4:9.1%
Swing4: 1.1 pp
Image5:Žilina P6112384 (cropped).jpg
Leader5:Ján Slota
Party5:Slovak National Party
Last Election5:9 seats, 5.4%
Seats5:14
Seat Change5: 5
Popular Vote5:304,839
Percentage5:9.1%
Swing5: 3.7 pp
Image6:Prezident udelil štátne vyznamenania 15. osobnostiam (15) (cropped).jpg
Leader6:Rudolf Schuster
Party6:Party of Civic Understanding
Last Election6:Did not exist
Seats6:13
Seat Change6:New
Popular Vote6:269,343
Percentage6:8.0%
Swing6:New
Prime Minister
Before Election:Vladimír Mečiar
Before Party:Movement for a Democratic Slovakia
After Election:Mikuláš Dzurinda
After Party:Christian Democratic Movement

Parliamentary elections were held in Slovakia on 25 and 26 September 1998.[1] The elections resulted in the defeat of the Vladimír Mečiar government and the election of Mikuláš Dzurinda as Prime Minister. His party, the Slovak Democratic Coalition formed a coalition government with the Party of the Democratic Left, Party of the Hungarian Coalition, and the Party of Civic Understanding.

Participating parties

PartyIdeologyPolitical positionLeader
Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS)Slovak nationalism
Populism
SyncreticVladimír Mečiar
Slovak Democratic Coalition (KDHDSSDSSSZ)Christian democracy
Economic liberalism
Centre-rightMikuláš Dzurinda
Party of the Democratic Left (SDĽ)Social democracy
Democratic socialism
Centre-leftJozef Migaš
Party of the Hungarian Coalition (MKP/SMK)Hungarian minority interests
Christian democracy
Centre-rightBéla Bugár
Slovak National Party (SNS)Ultranationalism
Right-wing populism
Far-rightJán Slota
Party of Civic Understanding (SOP)Social liberalism
Populism
Centre-leftRudolf Schuster

Notes and References

  1. [Dieter Nohlen|Nohlen, D]