Slovakia: 2002 Elections (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Nov. 7, 2002 |
| Report Number |
RS21265 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Julie Kim, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
In their recent parliamentary elections, Slovaks surprised most outside observers by renewing
the
mandate of Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda and providing him with a more coherent governing
coalition. The outcome may prove decisive in determining the country's foreign policy outlook.
Slovakia is among the nine countries bidding for invitations to join NATO at the alliance's
November 2002 Prague summit, and the ten leading candidate countries for European Union
membership. Although no formal decision has yet been made on the selection of NATO candidate
countries, U.S. and allied officials made clear during the months leading up to the election that a
return to power of former Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar or his party, the Movement for a
Democratic Slovakia, would likely preclude an invitation to Slovakia at Prague. NATO's
enlargement will be subject to Senate ratification. This report may be updated as events warrant.
