The Slovak Party of Democratic Left and its Political Transformation

The Slovak Party of Democratic Left and its Political Transformation This text describes and analyses one of the most important political parties of the slovak left – the Party of Democratic Left (SDĽ). SDĽ is a post-communist party that has been developed into a western-type of a social democratic party. SDĽ was established in the lap of the former ruling communist party after the 1989 revolution, thanks to the attempts of the young generation of “perestroyka” intellectuals. SDĽ was led by Peter Weiss from 1990 to 1996. Then he was replaced by Josef Migaš. SDĽ was on opposition parliament party from 1990 to 1994. In the elections of 1992, 14, 7% voters preferred SDĽ. In 1992 a deputy of SDĽ Ján Ľupták initiated a founding of the Slovak Worker’s Front (ZRS). His aim was to defend worker’s interests. In 1994, Ľupták transformed an originally civic association into a political party. Between March and October 1994, SDĽ was a part of the government coalition and held the offices of the vice prime minister (Brigtia Schmognerová) as well as the Minister of Economy, Defense and Justice. The participation was seen as a betrayal of its natural supporters. ZRS with its populist program took over a part of the SDĽ voters and won 13 of 150 mandates (7,3% of the votes) in the parliamentary election (in autumn 1994). Left coalition the Common Choice led by SDĽ was preferred by only 10,4% voters. (Until 1998, ZRS was an ally of Meier’s Movement for Democratic Slovakia in the government coalition.) In the parliamentary elections 1998, SDĽ standing alone increased its share of the votes to 14,7% (23 seats). It has become a part of the grand government coalition since that time. SDĽ politicians hold the offices of the vice prime minister and Ministers of Finance, Defense, Education, Social Affairs and Agriculture. Party Chairman Migaš is a president of the Parliament. In December 1999, there appeared a new political party the Smer on a slovak political scene. The populist program of this party took over a part of SDĽ voters. (Smer’s chairman Robert Fico is former vice chairman of SDĽ.)