Petőcz Kálmán (szerk.): National Populism and Slovak - Hungarian Relations in Slovakia 2006-2009 (Somorja, 2009)

Kálmán Petőcz: National Populism and Electoral Behaviour

KÁLMÁN PETŐCZ:

NatíonaI PopulisM aincí EIectoraI BeEavíour

The course and results of the most recent presidential elections in Slovakia that took place on March 21 and April 4, 2009, created an impression as if the country was tom asunder in terms of electoral behaviour, into a broader northern stripe and a narrower southern stripe that also included the capital of Bratislava and the East Slovak metropolis of Košice. The coloured map depicting the division of constituencies claimed by the incumbent President Ivan Gašparovič and his challenger Iveta Radičová, a civic candidate endorsed by opposition parties, became one of the most frequently presented media messages related to the elections.

Map 1

Results of the second round of presidential elections in Slovakia in 2009 - candidates receiving the greatest number of valid ballots in particular electoral districts

Source: Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic; www.statistics.sk

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