The year 2014 was once dubbed the superelection year, before the government of Iveta Radičová collapsed early, altering the parliamentary election cycle. Still, the year ahead is full of opportunites – some more, some less attractive – to cast one’s vote. Three types of elections will take place: European parliament, presidential, and municipal.Smer maintains firm grip; so does high unemploymentRegional elections bring extremist to powerPolitical right remains fragmentedScandals yes, but no top heads rollJudicial independence under threatRoma reform and human rights strategy stuckUncertainties in health sector remain
Of those three only the presidential election has significantly resonated among the public. Numerous candidates have come forward with the ambition to replace the country’s President Ivan Gašparovič, who is wrapping up his second term and thus unable to run again.
Fico announced his candidacy just a week before Christmas, on December 18.
By that time, the list of candidates included, besides Fico, Pavol Hrušovský backed by the KDH, Most-Híd and the SDKÚ; businessman Andrej Kiska, running as an independent candidate; Ján Čarnogurský, a former chair of the KDH; Peter Osuský from SaS; independent candidate Radoslav Procházka, a lawyer and formerly a member of the KDH; Milan Kňažko, one of the leaders of the Velvet Revolution and a former government official who will run as an independent candidate; Gyula Bárdos of the Hungarian Community Party (SMK). János Bósza, Leonid Chovanec, Jozef Behýl, Milan Melník, Jozef Šimko, Ľubica Blašková, Stanislav Martinčko and Viliam Fischer have also announced their candidacies.
The SDKÚ announced its support for Hrušovský on December 18. It was the last major party to announce which candidate it will back.
Radka Minarechová contributed to this story
