Slovak presidential election, 1999

The presidential election in Slovakia took place in 1999 ( first round ) and 29 ( second round ) March 1999 On 15. For the first time, the Slovak citizens could elect a president because the previous president, Michal Kováč, was elected by Parliament in 1993. His term ended on 2 March 1998, after which Vladimir Meciar, Ivan Gašparovič, Mikuláš Dzurinda and Jozef Migas were the incumbent president, before Rudolf Schuster won the election.

Prehistory

After the establishment of independent Slovakia, the president was elected by Parliament. In February 1993, Michal Kováč was elected the first president. In early 1997, led much of the opposition to the government under Meciar Ministerprädident a campaign for a referendum on changing the constitution with the aim of future popular election of the President. After the necessary number of signatures to achieve this, put President Michal Kováč at the referendum on 23 and 24 May 1997. At the same time he also chaired by the HZDS government required questions for accession to NATO and the stationing of foreign troops and nuclear weapons in Slovakia for voting. When Durchfügruzng the referendum, however, a decision of the Constitutional Court, the presidential election question was omitted by the government in unilateral Interpretaton. This led to the designation as " who is prevented referendum " and a Oppositionskampangne ​​to boycott the vote. This failed with a stake of less than 10%, far below the minimum required participation of half of the electorate. As a result there were violent domestic conflicts and foreign policy isolation of the country.

Michal Kovacs term ended on 2 March 1998; However, the National Council could choose a new president, as no candidate the constitutional majority (91 of 150 ) received. This was after that date the incumbent president Vladimir Meciar and from 14 July, Ivan Gašparovič. After the parliamentary elections in Slovakia in 1998 were Mikuláš Dzurinda and Jozef Migas. The new government of Mikuláš Dzurinda (see Dzurinda government I) was able to amend the Constitution; this happened on 14 January 1999.

First round of voting

The first round of voting took place on 15 May 1999.

  • Eligible voters: 4,038,899
  • Valid Votes / Total votes: 2.948.402/2.984.424
  • Turnout: 73.89 %

Note: Michal Kováč announced his candidacy yet on before the election.

In the first round of the government candidate Rudolf Schuster and the representatives of the opposition -dominated Vladimir Meciar before all other candidates. No one but obtain an absolute majority and thus was a second round is necessary. Schuster won in major cities of Bratislava and Košice, throughout the south of Slovakia to Banská Bystrica, in the Spis and Saris; the former Prime Minister Meciar has received a majority in the other Waag and Neutratal, partly in central Slovakia and sporadically in the northeast and far west.

Second round of voting

The second round of voting took place on 15 May 1999.

  • Eligible voters: 4,041,181
  • Valid Votes / Total votes: 3.021.123/3.049.221
  • Turnout: 75.45 %

In the second round of the election Schuster won lead with around 14% and became president for the next five years. In contrast to the first round of the election Schuster won the area of ​​Bratislava and the Záhorie hollte also isolated in northern Slovakia on; Meciar, however, could only turn around a district in the majority.

Boris Zala European Parliament election, 2004 (Slovakia)
659771
de