Legislative branch: unicameral
National Council (Narodni Rada): elections last held 30 September-1
October 1994 (next to be held by October 1998); results - HZDS 35%,
SDL 10.4%, Hungarian coalition (Hungarian Christian Democrats,
Hungarian Civic Party, Coexistence) 10.2%, KDH 10.1%, DU 8.6%, ZRS
7.3%, SNS 5.4%; seats - (150 total) governing coalition 83 (HZDS 61,
ZRS 13, SNS 9), opposition 67 (SDL 18, Hungarian coalition 17, KDH 17,
DU 15)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Movement for a Democratic Slovakia
(HZDS), Vladimir MECIAR, chairman; Common Choice/Party of the
Democratic Left (SDL), Peter WEISS, chairman; Hungarian Christian
Democrats, Vojtech BUGAR; Hungarian Civic Party; Coexistence, Miklos
DURAY, chairman; Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), Jan CARNOGURSKY;
Democratic Union (DU), Jozef MORAVCIK, chairman; Association of Slovak
Workers (ZRS), Jan LUPTAK, chairman; Slovak National Party (SNS), Jan
SLOTA, chairman
Other political or pressure groups: Green Party; Social Democratic
Party of Slovakia; Slovak Christian Union
Member of: Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE (guest), CEI, CERN, EBRD,
ECE, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, NSG, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM II,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIL, UNOMUR, UNPROFOR, UPU, WEU (associate
partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Branislav LICHARDUS
chancery: (temporary) Suite 380, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 965-5161
FAX: [1] (202) 965-5166
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Theodore E. RUSSELL embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [42] (7) 330-861, 333-338 FAX: [42] (7) 330-096
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the Slovak cross in a shield centered on the hoist side; the cross is white centered on a background of red and blue
@Slovakia:Economy
Overview: In 1994 macroeconomic performance improved steadily but privatization progressed only in fits and starts. Most of Slovakia's IMF-approved targets were met by an interim government that lasted 9 months. Annual inflation fell from 23% in 1993 to 12%; unemployment at 14.6% was still well below forecasts of 17%; and the budget deficit was around half that in 1993. Slovakia's nearly $200 million trade surplus also compares favorably with a more than $800 million deficit in 1993. Furthermore, after contracting almost 25% in the three years following 1990, GDP grew 4.3% in 1994, according to official statistics. Bratislava in June qualified for a $254 million IMF stand-by loan and the second $90 million tranche of its Systemic Transformation Facility and, in December, received approval for a European Union loan worth about $160 million. By the end of September 1994, the Central Bank's foreign currency reserves had tripled since the end of 1993. Slovakia continued to have difficulty attracting foreign investment, however, because of perceived political instability and halting progress in privatization. The interim government prepared property worth nearly $2 billion for the second wave of coupon privatization and sold participation in the program to over 80% of Slovakia's eligible citizens. Parties controlling the new Parliament in November 1994, however, put the second wave of coupon privatization on hold and suspended sales of 38 firms until the new government could evaluate the interim government's decisions in early 1995. The new government's targets for 1995 include GDP growth of 3%, inflation of 8%-10%, unemployment of 15%, and a budget deficit under 3% of GDP. Continuing economic recovery in western Europe should boost Slovak exports and production, but Slovakia's image with foreign creditors and investors could suffer setbacks in 1995 if progress on privatization stalls or budget deficits mount beyond IMF-recommended levels.