Slovakia votes this Saturday to allow or not the early elections

BRATISLAVA, 21 Ene. (DPA/EP) -

Around 4.5 million people are called this Saturday to vote in a referendum to decide whether to reform the Constitution to allow the early calling of elections, as is customary in other countries of the European Union.

Supporters of the constitutional amendment want to allow the possibility of holding early elections in Slovakia, as up to now the country's Magna Carta stipulates that Parliament, elected for a four-year term, could not be dissolved early even if a government fell apart and a majority for a new coalition could not be found.

The left-wing opposition has forced the referendum after some 400,000 people signed a petition to introduce the change, according to the DPA agency.

Bratislava is currently governed by a three-party conservative coalition, which no longer has a parliamentary majority. In the event of new elections, according to all polls, it risks total defeat, which is why the ruling parties tried to prevent the vote from taking place until the end. The next appointment with the polls would not be until 2024.

The referendum is only valid if at least 50 percent of those entitled to vote participate, although this level of participation has never been reached -- beyond the referendum on membership of the European Union 20 years ago.

The polling stations will remain open this Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.