* Election seen as test for PM Fico
* Runoff vote seen likely
By Peter Laca
BRATISLAVA, March 19 (Reuters) - Slovakia's election on
Saturday for the largely ceremonial post of president is seen as
a test for leftist Prime Minister Robert Fico before a
parliamentary poll next year.
Although current President Ivan Gasparovic, whom Fico
supports, is ahead in opinion polls, he faces a strong challenge
from main opposition nominee Iveta Radicova and a second round
runoff looks likely.
Fico, who came to power in 2006 pledging to help the poor in
the European Union member country, has worked to give the state
a stronger role in the economy.
He has threatened to nationalise foreign-owned stakes in
utility firms in the central European country of 5.4 million --
a euro zone newcomer -- if Western managers overcharge Slovaks
on gas or electricity.
"The main figure in this election is Fico," said Ivan
Stulajter, a columnist at the largest broadsheet daily Sme.
"It will show whether his grasp of power is confirmed and
his dominant position is as robust as suggested in opinion
polls, or whether he gets a slap if Radicova wins, or even
losses with a relatively narrow margin."
Fico is Slovakia's most popular politician by far, scoring
40 percent in an opinion poll this month.
His drive for a bigger state role in the economy followed
extensive privatisations earlier this decade that brought
Western owners to banks, utilities and manufacturing firms.
The popularity of Gasparovic, a 67-year old lawyer, has also
been high and he gained 52.6 percent in an opinion poll
conducted this month by the state-run Statistics Office ahead of
Radicova's 30.4 percent.
OPPOSITION CHALLENGE
But a February opinion poll of people's trust in politicians
had shown Radicova increasing her share to 10.6 percent, from
6.6 percent in December, while Gasparovic's popularity had
shrunk to 13.8 from 21.1 percent.
Opinion polls suggest no candidate will get the more than 50
percent needed to win in Saturday's first round and that the top
two candidates for the presidency, which has limited executive
powers, will go into a runoff vote on April 4.
Gasparovic has had cosy relations with Fico, praising his
steps aimed at improving living standards of those left behind
in market reforms of the previous centre-right administration.
Radicova, a 52-year old sociologist put forward by the SDKU
faction of former reformist leader Mikulas Dzurinda, is unlikely
to beat Gasparovic, said Pavel Haulik, the head of MVK polling
agency.
Fico took an active role in Gasparovic's campaign, appearing
with him on dozens of billboards across the country, with an eye
to next summer's legislative poll.
"It would be a very bad signal for Fico and his voters if
Radicova won," said Haulik. "That's why Fico got involved."
Like many other EU members, Slovakia has been hit by the
global economic turmoil as its export-reliant economy suffers
from the impact of weakening demand in its main markets such as
Germany.
It has not had to bail out any of its banks but has lost
thousands of jobs because of weaker demand for its exports,
mainly cars and TV sets.
(Additional reporting by Martin Santa; Editing by Charles Dick)
