Angry Slovaks Go To Polls For Legislative Elections

The coalition including the Democratic and Christian Union of former Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda appears to be in trouble.

Slovakia is holding parliamentary elections amid widespread public anger over a major corruption scandal.

Twenty-six parties are vying for seats in the legislature, and the four-party ruling coalition is widely expected to suffer substantial losses.

Three of the four members are in danger of failing to secure the 5 percent of the vote needed to gain any seats in parliament.

The elections come in the wake of a leaked report by the state intelligence service detailing bribes paid for rigged privatization deals and tender contracts.

The allegations stem from 2005-06, when Mikulas Dzurinda was prime minister.

Dzurinda is now foreign minister and his Democratic and Christian Union party is part of the governing coalition.

The opposition Social Democrats seem poised for major gains.

With dpa, AP, and AFP reporting