Leftist Smer ahead of PM's party in Slovak election

BRATISLAVA, June 17 (Reuters) A leftist party vowing to roll back reforms won an election in Slovakia today, but the reformist prime minister could yet stay in power if he joins forces with other centre-right parties, an exit poll showed.

The poll, carried out for TV channel Markiza, showed the left-wing Smer as the strongest single party on 27.2 percent of votes in the former communist nation's first parliamentary election since it joined the European Union in 2004.

Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda's party trailed Smer on 19 percent, but the combined total for his Democratic and Christian Union and two possible allies was almost 40 percent.

''Obviously we are destined for a coalition government. The make-up will depend on how the seats are divided and if there are changes from the early (exit) poll results,'' said Darina Malova, a political scientist from Commenius University in the capital, Bratislava.

Smer leader Robert Fico has promised to reverse Dzurinda's internationally-lauded welfare and tax reforms, saying they were too painful for ordinary people and that only the rich were benefiting from Slovakia's economic boom.

Dzurinda has vowed to adopt the euro single currency in 2009. Economic analysts say Fico's policies could delay euro zone entry although he has pledged to respect the target.

President Ivan Gasparovic is likely to ask Fico, 41, to form a government, but he is expected to find it hard to cobble together a majority coalition. If Fico fails, Gasparovic would be likely to ask Dzurinda to form a government.

One of Fico's options may be to turn to centre-right parties, but they are not his natural allies and reject his wholesale criticism of Dzurinda's policies.

He could also turn to the centre-left led by former prime minister Vladimir Meciar and far-right nationalists, but personal animosities could scupper such a coalition.

Fico's failure would give Dzurinda, 51, a chance to stay for a record third four-year term if he persuaded his traditional allies -- the ethnic Hungarian party and Christian Democrats -- plus one more partner to join forces with him.

Dzurinda has won plaudits abroad for taking the nation of 5.4 million people into the EU and NATO and setting it on track for euro zone membership, but his partners have often criticised him for what they call a dictatorial streak.

First partial election results are due early on tomorrow.

REUTERS PDS RAI0245