Foes Accuse Slovak Premier of Power Grab

The Slovak government defied a constitutional court Tuesday and provoked charges that Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar was establishing totalitarian rule by saying it will cancel a planned referendum on the presidency.

The move came hours after President Michal Kovac, one of Meciar’s fiercest critics, stepped down at the end of his term with no successor in place. Meciar was left to take over most of Kovac’s powers.

Government spokeswoman Dagmar Belakova confirmed reports that the government will not conduct the April 19 referendum.

Meciar’s spokesman said some presidential powers have passed to the prime minister. Others, such as the power to sign laws and appoint a new government, are in limbo.

A furious opposition said it will launch a petition for a new referendum. No successor to Kovac has been found because parliament, which elects the president, is too divided to agree on one.

The referendum was to ask voters whether they wanted to have the president elected by popular vote. The constitution contains no provision for ending the crisis.

Opposition politicians say this is precisely what Meciar, widely criticized for anti-democratic practices in the past, wants because most presidential powers have now passed to him.