Hungarian Coalition Party President Béla Bugár announced that his party has suspended participation in the government following the government's failure to endorse in Parliament the public administration bill it put forward [see report of July 4, 2001]. The final decision will be made by the party’s National Council, which is convened for August 25. The ethnic Hungarian party's withdrawal would leave the cabinet without a parliamentary majority, which may hinder the continuation of reforms seen vital for Slovakia's EU and NATO accessions. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony) July 8, 2001; Radio Free Europe Newsline, July 9, 2001]

By an overwhelming majority, the Slovak Parliament adopted two laws on public administration reform: one on the administrative-territorial redistricting of the country and another on the election of local governments. Both measures are contrary to the principle of local self-government, strengthening the central government’s role at the local level. With all members of the governing coalition—save the Hungarian Coalition Party (HCP)—allying themselves with the opposition Vladimír Meciar-led Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) and the ultra-nationalistic Slovak National Party (SNS) by voting for the bills other than their own, it became apparent that the ruling coalition is de facto defunct and has veered away from its avowed pro-NATO and EU integration principles. Rallying nationalistic sentiments under the banner of protecting the country’s territorial integrity, during the parliamentary debates, HZDS and SNS representatives expressed the intention behind rejecting the government’s 12-district proposal and the Hungarian Coalition Party’s 13-district proposal in favor of the existing Meciar-era 8 district system in force since 1996: to prevent ethnic Hungarians from forming a majority in any district. None of the eight districts have an absolute or even near ethnic Hungarian majority. Combined with the other law adopted that stipulates a two-round election procedure for popular election of the district president, this will ensure that no ethnic Hungarian is elected to the highest local post in the country. HCP said the vote undermines governmental stability while the laws run contrary to the European Charter of Regional Self-Government by preventing the effective participation of minorities in public affairs. Viktor Niznansky, government commissioner for the reform of the civil service, resigned after the vote and Deputy Premier Ivan Miklos said he was giving up the position of reform coordinator. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony) July 5, 2001; Radio Free Europe Newsline, July 9, 2001]