Slovakia's centre-right government secured enough votes to open a parliamentary session today, ending a political deadlock that had raised chances of early elections.
The minority administration of Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda found support among independent deputies to obtain 77 votes, more than the required 76-vote majority in the 150-seat parliament needed to open proceedings.
Opposition deputies had boycotted parliament for over a week in the hope of forcing early elections.
The stalemate had intensified calls from the opposition and even from one government partner for early polls before a regular election due next September.