Slovak Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda believes he and his centre-right allies are in a strong position to stay in power despite the leftist Smer party winning the most votes in weekend elections.
An exit poll for TV channel Markiza, showed the left-wing Smer as the strongest single party on 27.2 per cent of votes in the former communist nation's first parliamentary election since it joined the European Union and NATO in 2004.
Mr Dzurinda's party trailed Smer on 19 per cent. But the combined total for his Democratic and Christian Union and two possible allies was more than 39 per cent, more than opinion surveys had suggested.
Smer declined immediate comment but Mr Dzurinda's party was upbeat.
He called on the Ethnic Hungarian Party and the Christian Democrats to stick with him.
"We have quite a strong position together and I hope our cooperation will be effective and productive because in that case our chance for political continuity will grow," Mr Dzurinda said.
Smer leader Robert Fico has promised to reverse Slovakia's internationally-lauded welfare and tax reforms, saying they were too painful for ordinary people and that only the rich were benefiting from Slovakia's economic boom.
Mr Dzurinda has vowed to adopt the euro single currency in 2009. Economic analysts say Fico's policies could lead to higher fiscal deficits and delay euro zone entry although he has pledged to respect the target.