The non-parliamentary Ano party of media owner Pavol Rusko decided over the February 9-10 weekend that it would contest fall elections by itself, rather than as part of a right-wing grouping as previously suggested. Slovakia's potential right wing allies - six parties who together muster about 35 per cent support - have been unable to agree on cooperation, with the conservative Christian Democrats (KDH) rejecting closer ties altogether, and the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK) saying on February 13 that it would not enter a post-election government with the KDH if a law guaranteeing the sovereignty of the Slovak state - sponsored by the KDH - was passed by parliament.
National elections are scheduled for September 2002.
