Publications: Analysis – Paralysis: Election puzzles in Central Europe
By Dr. Josef A. Mestenhauser
The recently concluded elections in Central Europe brought many surprises that should have left the analysts looking for ways to explain their faulty predictions. In both the Czech and Slovak Republics, the largest percentage of votes went to social democrats (CSSD and the Smer), but they will not be able to form governments.
In Slovakia, former Prime Minister Fico returned his mandate to form a government in Slovakia because he could not find enough support; the new prime minister will be Iveta Radicova, President of the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKU-DS). She was a presidential candidate in 2009, and will be the first woman to hold the post. In all, eighteen parties nominated 2,401 candidates for 150 seats. With a turnout of 58.8 percent, only six parties obtained enough votes to be seated in parliament. Others, including former Prsident Meciar’s party, did not get in. Predictions are that this spells his political death. By August, Slovakia should have a new coalition government supported by SDKU-DS, the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), the Freedom and Solidarity Party (SaS) and the moderate Hungarian Party. The Communist Party received less than one percent.
We are a non-profit organization, serving as resource for Minnesotans interested in Central Europe and as point of contact for people from Czech and Slovak Republics. 
