THE LAST in the series of elections taking place this year in Slovakia, the elections of mayors and deputies in municipal councils, will be held on November 15
Pavol Paška announced the date of the municipal elections on July 7.
According to the law, the parliamentary chairman should announce the date of the vote at least 90 days in advance. Political parties are subsequently invited to submit their slates. This must be done by 55 days prior to election day. Also invited to run are non-partisan candidates under the condition that they present a petition signed by a minimum number of people, which varies according to the size of the given municipality.
In order to be elected as a mayor or councillor, the candidates need to garner most of the vote.
As for eligible voters, all Slovak citizens with permanent residence in the respective municipality (including cities, towns, villages and city boroughs) who are older than 18 years on the day of the vote can cast ballot papers. Foreign citizens are also eligible to vote under the condition that they have permanent residence in Slovakia.
Voters are obliged to go to the polls in the municipalities in which they are registered as permanent residents.
Some of the candidates have objected to the decision to schedule the municipal elections to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, November 17, which is also a national holiday in Slovakia.
Failed presidential candidate Milan Kňažko, who is now running for the mayoral post in the capital, criticised the chosen date in an interview with the Sme daily. He rejected the idea that his frequent appearances in the media prior to the November 17 anniversary, due to his involvement in the Velvet Revolution, would put him at an advantage.
Source: Sme, TASR
Compiled by Michaela Terenzani from press reports.
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information
presented in its Flash News postings.
