- Title: SLOVAKIA: ELECTION CAMPAIGN OFFICIALLY ENDS
- Date: 24th September 1998
- Summary: BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA (RECENT) (RTV) 1. GV /LV BRATISLAVA STOCKSHOTS (3 SHOTS) 0.13 2. LAS PAN /SLV ELECTION CAMPAIGN POSTERS (3 SHOTS) 0.24 KOSICE (RECENT) (RTV) 3. SLV SUPPORTERS AT CAMPAIGN RALLY FOR PRIME MINISTER VLADIMIR MERCIAR/ PEOPLE CLAPPING/ MERCIAR ADDRESSING CROWDS (2 SHOTS) 0.33 4. SLV /SCU FRENCH ACTOR GERARD DEPARDIE
- Embargoed: 9th October 1998 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BRATISLAVA AND KOSICE, SLOVAKIA
- City:
- Country: EUROPE Slovakia
- Reuters ID: LVA6TKHQPE6UYTDX4CGFIRJNYGX2
- Story Text: Slovakia's election campaign officially ended on Wednesday leaving a two-day cooling off period before polls which diplomats say could determine the troubled post-communist country's direction for decades to come.
The Slovak political scene is one of the most polarised in central and eastern Europe and the country was excluded from European Union and NATO membership amid accusations that the government's style is undemocratic.
Although Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar has consistently rejected all charges of foul play, he has few friends abroad.
If the opinion polls are accurate, the combined opposition would gain over 60 percent of the votes, giving them the power to change the constitution and a free hand in policy-making over the next four years.
Merciar has been criticised by human rights organisations and the European Union for undemocratic practices and he has been shunned by most Western political leaders for years.
But this has not stopped foreign stars such as French actor Gerard Depardieu and model Claudia Schiffer from appearing with Meciar at public events in the run-up to polling day on September 25th and 26th.
Depardieu flew into the eastern Slovak town of Kosice on Sunday (September 20)and joined up with Meciar at a pre-election rally for the prime minister's Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS)attended by thousands of cheering supporters.
The Slovak opposition was outraged by the decision of German supermodel Claudia Schiffer to open a motorway section along with the prime minister on September 10.
Schiffer's visit was given saturation coverage on state television opposition parties have urged other celebrities to think hard about who and what they were supporting before following Schiffer's example.
Mikulas Dzurinda, who could be Slovakia's next prime minister, says he can lead his country back to fully fledged democracy and acceptance within the international community.
However, a growing current account deficit, high levels of foreign debt and a large budget deficit will have to be addressed by any new administration and this will inevitably affect economic growth.
If he does win, Dzurinda says better relations with the West will be a top priority.
Polls are open on Friday and Saturday and results should begin to trickle through on Sunday afternoon.
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