Low turnout in Slovakian local elections - Summary

Sat, 27 Nov 2010

Bratislava - Polls closed Saturday in local Slovakian elections at 8 pm (1900 GMT), after a low turnout and some reports of vote-rigging.

Votes from members of the Roma community in particular were reported to have been bought or swapped for goods.

According to local electoral committees, voter turnout may have stood at under 47.65 per cent, recorded four years ago and the country's lowest ever level. Results are not expected until Sunday.

The elections seen as the first test for the center-right government of Prime Minister Iveta Radicova.

The four-party government has ordered a strict austerity plan for the country and ruffled feathers around Europe for its criticism of EU aid for less frugal countries. It was the only member of the European Union that refused to contribute to the EU aid package for Greece.

The mayoral race in the capital Bratislava has drawn the most attention.

The capital has traditionally been the stronghold of the more conservative parties currently in government. However, polls have shown that for the first time a leftist candidate might have a chance of winning.

The two Christian Democratic parties KDH and SDKU, which have ruled the capital since Slovakia threw off Communism, have been discredited by numerous accusations of corruption and maladministration.

Their candidate, former actress and diplomat Magdalena Vasaryova, is also inexperienced in local politics.

Her strongest opponent, Milan Ftacnik, on the other hand, has broad cross-party appeal and has enjoyed a scandal-free period of government in the largest district of Bratislava for the past few years.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/355467,local-elections-summary.html.