A leftist party led by one of the few leading politicians in Slovakia to escape voter anger over a major corruption scandal has been propelled back into power in an early parliamentary election, according to final results today.

Slovak prime minister Mikulas Dzurinda is to face a vote of no confidence in a special session of parliament in Bratislava today.

US President George W Bush is urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to reverse Moscow’s recent retreat from democratic reforms, while seeking to refresh his “close relationship” with his Russian counterpart.

General elections have boosted Slovak hopes of joining Nato and the European Union by leaving an authoritarian former prime minister with his worst showing ever.