Slovak vote to decide fate of reformist government

BRATISLAVA, June 17 (Reuters) Slovaks decide in a national election on Saturday whether to keep Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda for a record third term or pick a leftist who promises to roll back the government's internationally lauded reforms.

The latest opinion polls showed centre-right parties allied with Dzurinda just ahead of the leftist Smer party, but both short of majority.The first election since the ex-communist nation of 5.4 million joined the European Union two years ago will decide the future of Dzurinda's bold tax and welfare reforms and whether the country will join the euro area in 2009 as planned.

"It's a classic battle between liberal values, a free market and minimal government intervention in the economy party and a party that wants a strong welfare state and a social safety net," said Martin Slosiarik, an analyst at polling agency FOCUS.

Voting starts at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and ends at 10 p.m.

Results are expected by early Sunday morning.Dzurinda's tough free-market reforms have lured in investment and turned Slovakia into one of Europe's fastest-growing economies. Smer leader Robert Fico has capitalised on reform fatigue, and vowed to reverse many changes, saying they have only benefited the rich.

A hard-working campaigner known for late comebacks, Dzurinda has criss-crossed the country trying to convince voters prosperity is just around the corner and reforms must be finished to allow Slovaks to compete in a global economy.