Slovakia--Government
CIA FactbookThe World Factbook 1993: Slovakia Government Names: conventional long form: Slovak Republic conventional short form: Slovakia local long form: Slovenska Republika local short form: Slovensko

Digraph: LO

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Bratislava

Administrative divisions: 4 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) Bratislava, Zapadoslovensky, Stredoslovensky, Vychodoslovensky

Independence: 1 January 1993 (from Czechoslovakia)

Constitution: ratified 3 September 1992; fully effective 1 January 1993

Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory

National holiday: Slovak National Uprising, August 29 (1944)

Political parties and leaders: Hungarian Christian Democratic Movement, Vojtech BUGAR; Christian Democratic Movement, Jan CARNOGURSKY; Movement for a Democratic Slovakia, Vladimir MECIAR, chairman; Party of the Democratic Left, Peter WEISS, chairman; Slovak National Party, Ludovit CERNAK, chairman; Coexistence, Miklos DURAY, chairman; Party of Conservative Democrats, leader NA

Other political or pressure groups: Green Party; Democratic Party; Social Democratic Party in Slovakia; Movement for Czech-Slovak Accord; Freedom Party; Slovak Christian Union; Hungarian Civic Party

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Elections:

President: last held 8 February 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - Michal KOVAC elected by the National Council

National Council: last held 5-6 June 1992 (next to be held NA June 1996); results - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia 37%, Party of the Democratic Left 15%, Christian Democratic Movement 9%, Slovak National Party 8%, Hungarian Christian Democratic Movement/Coexistence 7%; seats - (150 total) Movement for a Democratic Slovakia, 74, Party of the Democratic Left 29, Christian Democratic Movement 18, Slovak National Party 15, Hungarian Christian Democratic Movement/Coexistence 14

Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Council (Narodni Rada)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Leaders:

Chief of State: President Michal KOVAC (since 8 February 1993)

Head of Government: Prime Minister Vladimir MECIAR (since NA), Deputy Prime Minister Roman KOVAC (since NA)

Member of: BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, PCA, UN (as of 8 January 1993), UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Dr. Milan ERBAN chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 363-6315 or 6316 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Elect Eleanor SUTTER embassy: Hviczdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: 427 330 861

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with a crest with a white double cross on three blue mountains