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http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/bn/Qslovakia-vote.Rr6X_CSH.html Elections to decide Slovakia's future in Europe -In recent months, Meciar's populist party, the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS), has edged back to the top of opinion polls. -The US ambassador to NATO, Nicholas Burns, was even more direct during a visit here in February. No undemocratic movement, party or government has a place in NATO, he said, adding that in his view Meciar's HZDS did not respect democratic values or rule of law. -It ['Europe'] has also reminded Slovakians that hundreds of millions of euros in subsidies will pour into this country of 5.4 million if it does enter the EU as expected in 2004. -Any prospect of Meciar's forming a coalition is seen as unlikely, with the other parties -- many only a few years old -- leery of anyone so shunned by the EU and NATO. BRATISLAVA, Sept 17 (AFP) - Slovakia votes for a new parliament this weekend in a poll seen as the most critical in the country's short history of independence, and one that will determine whether it finally buries its once frosty relations with the EU and NATO to embrace a new partnership. Mindful of the country's fractured political landscape and continuing economic troubles, both the United States and the European Union have played an insistent -- if low-key -- role in urging voters that their interests lie in giving Slovakia a government that inspires Europe's confidence and is committed to political, economic and social reform. The unspoken but clearly recognizable focus behind this concern is former nationalist and authoritarian prime minister Vladimir Meciar. In recent months, Meciar's populist party, the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS), has edged back to the top of opinion polls. At 60, the man who led Slovakia to independence in 1993 after its "velvet divorce" with the Czech Republic wants to move back into the post he lost in the last elections in 1998. The EU and NATO remain suspicious of Meciar, whom they criticized for democratic shortcomings, ignoring minority rights, abuse of power and murky privatizations during his time in office from 1994-98. They have hinted that Slovakia can kiss goodbye to full European integration if he returns to office. European Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen this month told Slovakians they need leaders who are "trusted in Europe". The US ambassador to NATO, Nicholas Burns, was even more direct during a visit here in February. No undemocratic movement, party or government has a place in NATO, he said, adding that in his view Meciar's HZDS did not respect democratic values or rule of law. Under Meciar, Slovakia was left out of NATO in 1997 when three of its immediate neighbors, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, were all asked to join. Europe, wanting to expand eastward, has adopted tones a touch more diplomatic. Mindful that Bratislava's own polls show 78 percent support here for EU membership, the EU has stressed that Slovakia is now at the forefront of EU hopeful states thanks to efforts by the anti-Meciar coalition that won in 1998. It has also reminded Slovakians that hundreds of millions of euros in subsidies will pour into this country of 5.4 million if it does enter the EU as expected in 2004. The hints have not gone unnoticed in a country whose economy still lags behind its more prosperous former partner, the Czech Republic, after decades of communism. Unemployment remains high -- 19 percent in the first quarter of 2002 -- and budget deficits persist. The West's anti-Meciar campaign has been helped by the defection of Meciar's right-hand man, Ivan Gasparovic, who founded a dissident offshoot credited with six percent of the polls. And recent press reports critical of Meciar's reported million-euro renovation of his luxurious mansion have further damaged his image as father of the nation out to serve only his people. Though he is still on top, his support has slumped to 18 percent from a rousing 30 percent a few months back. Any prospect of Meciar's forming a coalition is seen as unlikely, with the other parties -- many only a few years old -- leery of anyone so shunned by the EU and NATO. Only one figure has emerged as a possible challenger to Meciar. Robert Fico, a 38-year-old lawyer, and his Smer (The Way) party are now nearly neck-and-neck with Meciar's HZDS in the polls. Claiming to be a fan of British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Fico has called for a return to law and order, blasted corruption and even hinted at restoring the death penalty. His critics call him another Meciar, but the US and EU are taking a closer look. "He's a blank page but we should be able to work with him," said one European diplomat. Fico has made no secret of his desire to be prime minister. But the other four center-right, anti-Meciar parties with a chance of making it past the five percent threshhold needed for seats in parliament have shown no interest in joining any coalition with Fico. Three of these parties were in the outgoing center-right coalition that governed for four years under Mikulas Dzurinda, which has been heavily blasted by Fico for failing to turn around the economy. Whatever happens, "it is important that the next government be operational as quickly as possible," said the EU ambassador to Bratislava, Eric van der Linden. As the timetable now stands, the new government will have to wind up negotiations for EU membership by December, then prepare for membership in NATO after the Prague summit on November 21 and 22. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
