In parliamentary elections on 17 June, the Direction-Social
Democracy (Smer) party won the most votes. To secure a ruling
majority, it formed a coalition with the Slovak National Party
(SNS) and the People's Party-Movement for a Democratic Slovakia.
As both coalition partners, particularly the SNS, were deemed to
have promoted ethnic or racial prejudices and hatred, Smer's
membership of the Party of European Socialists in the European
Parliament was suspended. On 3 February, the Constitution was
amended to increase the powers of the Public Defender of Rights
(Ombudsperson), including the right to bring cases before the
Constitutional Court when laws and regulations threaten human
rights and basic freedoms. Another amendment specified the duty
of all public security forces to co-operate with the Public
Defender. Exclusion of Roma Roma faced discrimination in access
to housing, education and employment, according to the final
report on the human rights situation of the Roma, Sinti and
Travellers in Europe by th