Slovak parliamentary election, 2016

Slovak parliamentary election, 2016

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All 150 seats of the Národná rada 76 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Robert Fico Richard Sulík Igor Matovič Party Smer–SD SaS OĽaNO–NOVA Leader since 1999 2009 2011 Last election 83 seats, 44.4% 11 seats, 5.9% 16 seats, 8.5% Seats won 49 21 19 Seat change 34 10 3 Percentage 28.3% 12.1% 11.0% Swing 16.1 pp 6.2 pp 2.5 pp   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Andrej Danko Marian Kotleba Boris Kollár Party SNS ĽSNS We Are Family Leader since 2012 2010 2015 Last election 0 seats, 4.5% 0 seats, 1.6% New party Seats won 15 14 11 Seat change 15 14 New party Percentage 8.6% 8.0% 6.6% Swing 4.1 pp 6.4 pp New party   Seventh party Eighth party   Leader Béla Bugár Radoslav Procházka Party Most-Híd #Network Leader since 2009 2014 Last election 13 seats, 6.9% New party Seats won 11 10 Seat change 2 New party Percentage 6.5% 5.6% Swing 0.4 pp New party
Seats in the National Council after 2016 parliamentary election.
Prime Minister before election Robert Fico Smer–SD Prime Minister-designate Robert Fico Smer–SD

Robert Fico
Smer–SD

Robert Fico
Smer–SD

Parliamentary elections were held in Slovakia on 5 March 2016 to elect the 150 members of the National Council. The ruling left-wing populist Direction – Social Democracy (SMER–SD) party remained the strongest party, but lost its majority. The Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party (SDKÚ-DS) which led the government between 2000–06 and 2010–12 was defeated heavily, failing to cross the electoral threshold and losing its representation in the National Council. The centre-right Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) also failed to cross the threshold for the first time since 1990, whilst the far-right nationalist Kotleba – People's Party Our Slovakia (ĽSNS) entered parliament for the first time.

The 150 members of the National Council were elected by proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency with an electoral threshold of 5% for single parties, 7% for coalitions grouping at least two parties. The elections used the open list system, with seats allocated using the Hagenbach-Bischoff system. Voters were able to cast up to four preferential votes for candidates on the list of the party they voted for.

All participating parties had to register 90 days before election day and pay a deposit of €17,000, which was refunded to all parties gaining 2% or more of the vote. All Slovak citizens were allowed to vote except for convicted felons in prison (only those who were convicted for serious offences), people declared ineligible to perform legal acts (legally insane) by court and citizens under 18 years of age. All citizens, who are 21 years of age or older and are permanent residents of Slovakia, were allowed to run as candidates except for prisoners, convicted felons and those declared ineligible to perform legal acts (legally insane) by court.