THE EVOLUTION OF THE INSTITUTION OF PARLIAMENTARISM IN THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC AND THE PROBLEMS OF ITS FUNCTIONING AT THE PRESENT STAGE

Abstract

The article deals with the development of the institution of parliamentarism through the prism of state-power relations, constitutionalism and political transformations in the Slovak Republic. Noted that the process of democratic transformations in Slovakia is closely linked to the development of the institute of parliamentarism, which occupies a central place in the system of power relations. The features and directions of reforming state (parliamentary) institutions have been revealed. The constitutional model of Slovak parliamentarism is analyzed. It is concluded that in the Constitution 1992 many provisions were formulated vaguely and provoked politicalinstitutional conflicts. Constitutional amendments (1999, 2001) partly reinstated the institutional balance in the system of power relations. Slovakia is dynamically reacting to political crises and is looking for the possibility of constitutionally improving the institution of the parliamentarism. Authors highlighted the main problems of the functioning of the Slovak parliamentarism: high degree of fragmentation and fluctuation of the political structure of parliament; the instability of the parliamentary representation of the political parties, imbalance of representation of regions and others. It is substantiated that the development of Slovak parliamentarism was due to a complex of institutional, party-political factors and the realities of the current political process. Authors emphasize that problems of functioning of parliamentarism and the instability of the party system in the Slovak Republic creates risks for the stability of parliamentary democracy. Authors come to the conclusion, that the institute of parliamentarism played an important role in the democratic transformation, legitimation and institutional consolidation of the political system in the Slovak Republic.