Bratislava, 20 May 1997 (RFE/RL) - Referendum ballots with four questions -- three on Slovakia's NATO membership and one on direct presidential elections -- have been distributed to all of the country's 79 districts. The referendum is to take place on Friday and Saturday.
The government has tried to block the question on direct presidential elections, asking the Constitutional Court to rule whether the constitution can be changed by a referendum. The court ruled last week that the government is not entitled to lodge such queries. Nevertheless, it may still rule (probably today) on whether the constitution can be changed by a referendum.
Interior Minister Ivan Krajci repeated yesterday that he is prepared to distribute ballots with just three questions, should the court support the government's position. If ballots with only three questions cannot be distributed in time, the fourth question would not be legally binding.
The government has tried to block the question on direct presidential elections, asking the Constitutional Court to rule whether the constitution can be changed by a referendum. The court ruled last week that the government is not entitled to lodge such queries. Nevertheless, it may still rule (probably today) on whether the constitution can be changed by a referendum.
Interior Minister Ivan Krajci repeated yesterday that he is prepared to distribute ballots with just three questions, should the court support the government's position. If ballots with only three questions cannot be distributed in time, the fourth question would not be legally binding.