Poll shows Slovak leftists win, tough talks ahead

BRATISLAVA, June 18 (Reuters) A leftist party vowing to roll back reforms won an election in Slovakia, an exit poll showed, but it faces a tough battle to form a coalition government after failing to secure a majority.

Reformist Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda could yet stay in power if the left-wing Smer fails to forge a coalition after yesterday's parliamentary election, the former communist nation's first since it joined the European Union in 2004.

A TV exit poll showed the left-wing Smer was the strongest single party on 27.2 percent of votes and put Dzurinda's party second on 19 percent. But the combined total for his Democratic and Christian Union and two possible allies was more than 39 percent, better than opinion surveys had suggested.

Both Smer and Dzurinda need to woo more partners to secure a majority in the 150-seat parliament and weeks of horse-trading may be needed to bridge policy differences and overcome personal animosities.

''We can't rule out that it could take a month or more for negotiations to produce a government,'' said Marek Rybar, a political scientist at Comenius University in Bratislava.

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

Dzurinda, 51, has vowed to complete reforms that made Slovakia one of Europe's fastest-growing economies and to adopt the euro single currency in 2009.

Economic analysts say Fico's policies could lead to higher fiscal deficits and delay euro zone entry even though he has pledged to respect the target.

First partial results were due early on Sunday.

PRESIDENT SET TO TURN TO FICO There was no sign of celebration in either camp although Ivan Miklos, finance minister and the architect of Dzurinda's economic reforms, said he was cautiously optimistic.

President Ivan Gasparovic is likely to first ask Fico, 41, to form a government. If Dico fails, Gasparovic would turn to Dzurinda, eastern Europe's longest-serving leader.

One of Smer's options is to woo centre-right parties that have ruled together with Dzurinda, but they reject Fico's wholesale criticism of his policies.

Fico could also secure a majority by teaming up with the centre-left led by former prime minister Vladimir Meciar and far-right nationalists, but such parties would be likely to receive a cool reception from Slovakia's EU partners.

''Smer can either form a government that is internationally respected and have to compromise on its programme, or have a freeer hand and go with Meciar and the nationalists,'' said Marian Lesko, a commentator at Sme newspaper. ''I'd say the chances are 50-50.'' Dzurinda, 51, would have to persuade his traditional allies -- the ethnic Hungarian party and Christian Democrats -- plus one more partner to join forces with him to secure a third term.

Dzurinda has won plaudits abroad for taking the nation of 5.4 million people into the EU and NATO but his partners have often criticised him for what they call a dictatorial streak.

REUTERS PDS RAI0510