Mr Vladimir Meciar, who made Slovakia a diplomatic pariah in the 1990s, scored a shock first round win in presidential elections this weekend, setting up the prospect of government paralysis as the country joins the EU.
Foreign Minister Mr Eduard Kukan, the candidate most closely tied to the government of reformist Prime Minister Mr Mikulas Dzurinda, was eliminated from the second round run-off leaving Meciar with a strong chance to beat former ally Mr Ivan Gasparovic.
61-year-old Mr Meciar's stunning political comeback is a crushing embarrassment for his successor, Mr Dzurinda, who will lead the ex-Communist state into the EU on May 1st after six years of trying to erase Mr Meciar's anti-EU legacy.
In a turn of events likely to weaken the crown currency because the president will have a veto over legislation including much-needed reforms aimed at aligning Slovakia with the EU, Mr Meciar won 32.7 per cent of the vote.
"This result is absolutely shocking... and it will definitely complicate the whole country's situation, especially for the government," said Mr Grigory Meseznikov, head of the independent IVO think-tank.
Official results gave 22.3 per cent to Mr Gasparovic, just 0.2 points ahead of Mr Kukan who had led opinion polls before the vote. The two leading candidates go to a run-off on April 17, and analysts said Mr Meciar had a strong chance for victory.
"It's only halftime, and you don't celebrate at halftime. The elections will continue," a visibly happy Mr Meciar said on Sunday in a televised debate after results were known.