NGOs Unite for Fair Elections in Slovakia
In the eyes of many people throughout Central and Eastern Europe, Slovakia’s Velvet Revolution came to a successful conclusion with the parliamentary elections of September 1998. In this hallmark election, the majority rule of the Movement for Democratic Slovakia, led by Vladimir Meciar, was defeated and replaced by Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda, leader of the Slovak Democratic Coalition, who now heads a four-party coalition government.
The Slovak Federal Republic’s constitution provides for multi-party, multi-ethnic, parliamentary democracy. However, during its four-year term, the governing coalition lead by former Prime Minister Meciar was accused of violating numerous democratic principles, including thwarting a May 1997 referendum on the direct election of the president. Many feared that Meciar’s government might manipulate the parliamentary elections and subvert the true intentions of citizens nationwide.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) felt strongly that strengthening citizen participation in the process would ensure fair elections. Committed to this outcome, Partners-Slovakia joined a coalition of 11 NGOs in a large-scale, nationwide civic campaign for free and fair elections. The Obcianska Kampan (Civic Campaign), or OK98, as it was called, coalesced in January 1998 with three broad goals: to inform voters, increase voter turnout and monitor the election.
Partners-Slovakia was deeply involved in all aspects of OK98. In a series of “Pre-Election Roundtables,” Center staff trained members of other NGOs to organize and moderate pre-election forums for citizens. These roundtables also provided opportunities for NGO leaders to interface with candidates. In addition, Partners-Slovakia facilitated and mediated the meetings of OK98 organizers and coordinated citizen activities related to the election. Furthermore, as part of its education and outreach efforts, Partners-Slovakia trained lecturers from the European Law Students Association on the importance of young voter participation in the elections. Finally, Partners-Slovakia facilitated a series of seminars for the Election Crisis Network – a network of NGOs that dispatched approximately 2,500 election monitors to prevent manipulation during the two days and one night of the election process.
Two million posters, thousands of leaflets and publications, hundreds of video spots and political debates, and thirteen rock concerts later, the NGOs participating in OK98 declared victory. Voter turnout reached a record 84 percent – higher than that of any neighboring country. Eight out of ten voters cast a ballot for the first time…and their widespread hopes for change were fulfilled. As the last ballots from September 26th were tallied, a coalition of opposition parties had won 93 out of 150 parliamentary seats.
Word of the election results came on October 1, 1998, from elated Partners-Slovakia staff: “Some of us were even sleeping in the office to guard NGO monitoring. Slovakia again begins to be a cultural, human-friendly country. Please join our beautiful feeling for awhile.”
On the heels of their success, Partners-Slovakia and other leaders of OK98 led several workshops, titled Sharing the OK98 Experience, for NGO leaders from formerly communist countries with upcoming elections. The response was overwhelming – over 60 NGO leaders from Croatia, FRY, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, the Baltics, and Russia attended this event, each perhaps renewing their hope that change is truly possible through an authentic democratic process.
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