Turnout threatens Slovak EU poll (turnout cliffhanger)

BBC ^ | Saturday 17 May, 2003, 14:25 GMT 15:25 UK

[Int]

Turnout threatens Slovak EU poll

Voting has ended in Slovakia's referendum on whether to join the European Union, amid fears that a low turnout could invalidate the poll.

Just an hour before the polls closed at 1400 local time (1200 GMT), election officials and local media said only between 47% and 49% of voters had cast their ballots.

Fearing turnout might not reach the 50% minimum required by law, Slovak leaders earlier made a dramatic last-minute appeal to voters to go to the polling stations.

"The success of the referendum is only valid if the majority of voters take part, which remains uncertain," said a joint statement by President Rudolf Schuster, Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda and Parliament Speaker Pavol Hrusovsky.

"We call you to use the little time you have left to go to the polls to give your say on the road ahead for our country"




- Joint statement by Slovak leaders

Official results are expected to be announced on Sunday morning.

Correspondents say that with more than 70% of Slovaks in favour of joining the EU, the result should be a foregone conclusion - if enough people vote to make the poll binding.

Slovakia is the fifth EU candidate to hold a referendum on joining, after 10 states were invited last year to join the bloc in May 2004.

Malta, Slovenia and Hungary and last week Lithuania all voted "yes" earlier this year.

'Road ahead'

After the polls opened on Friday, some Slovak officials admitted that the lack of debate had made it difficult to generate enthusiasm for the vote.

"That may be a small problem concerning referendum because there is ... not a competition of... different positions or points of view," Slovak Deputy Prime Minister Pal Csaky said.

And when their fears appeared to be confirmed on the final day of the vote, Slovak leaders broke the election silence, urging people to cast their ballots.

"We call you to use the little time you have left to go to the polls to give your say on the road ahead for our country," Saturday's joint statement said.

However, correspondents say the referendum is mainly symbolic.

They say if the referendum is declared invalid, the government intends to pass enabling legislation to allow Slovakia to join the EU on schedule next year.

Vibrant economy

Slovakia, a landlocked country of 5.4 million people, was easily the poorer half of the former Czechoslovakia.

For the first five years of independence it was ruled by autocratic hardline nationalist Vladimir Meciar.

Concerns about its human rights record meant its application was delayed while neighbours like Poland and Hungary pressed ahead.

But since 1998, rapid political and economic reform has transformed it into one of the region's most vibrant economies.

Last year Slovakia registered growth of 4.4%, well above the EU average.

But there is 18% unemployment and wages are low.

The government is about to introduce controversial health and income tax reforms.

[Bogey78O]

We need more laws like this in the US. It'll take the edge off of dedicated democrats forcing legislation through a nonchalant public.

[Colosis]

Gee, where's the enthusiasm to join a european superstate of socialist republics?

[Colosis]

In addition, being the main reason that WE have always been the main proponents of European integration, we benefit from a stable and peaceful Europe.

Very true - though I think they might get a bit of a shock when they get their 3000 pages of euro leglisation! I am so worried about what will come of europe. This project is definitely a socialist one and the franco/german axis badly wants to the power to challange the US. Imagine Franz Fiscler as the euro foreign minister - hope it never happens.

BTW, I enjoy my insanity too - welcome to the club <|;)

[Colosis]

80,000 pages of laws

The life of a eurocrat! Jeez, I hope the euro constitution (drafted next week?) isn't that complicated. My vote is NO anyway.

[Int]

I can see the very real benefits of EU economic integration (the socialist parties are usually in the "no" camp) but I can't understand the push for a common foreign policy (not to mention the tortuous fight over whether relgion should be mentioned in the EU constitution). It may seem to empower the EU as major player on the international stage but it just broadens the gap between the European people and the EU political elites.

The result from Slovakia, by the way, is 92% yes to join the EU. A government official told journalists on condition of anonymity that the turnout was 52%.

[WOSG]

EU=4th Reich is righ on, IMHO.

The threat is not to us, but to the freedom of Europeans at the hands of central Government.

Alas, like in the US, the "sheeple" dont see it coming until it is too late. And alas, too much in the European political elite have a distaste for freedom instead of a love for it.

That is the danger of the EU. It will worsen the already sorry state of freedom in Europe, and lead to a politically correct Socialist superstate. Hillary would love it. I dont.

JMHO.