The resignation of Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar and his cabinet came one month after the government was overwhelmingly defeated in a general election.

He handed his resignation to Jozef Migas, the new speaker of parliament and a former Communist functionary.

Mikulas Dzurinda: Heading a four-party coalition

Mr Migas' leftist party will be one of the central pillars in the new government, but the prime minister, in the grand coalition forming the new cabinet, will be a Christian Democrat - Mikulas Dzurinda.

The resignation came after the opening session of the country's new parliament, in which the current opposition parties hold a strong majority.

Mr Meciar did not only resign as prime minister, but also gave up his newly won seat in parliament.

During an emotional TV appearance recently he told Slovaks he would quit politics because he could have no influence as an opposition deputy.

Controversial replacement

But, with the incoming government planning to hold presidential elections in the spring, a comeback bid has not been ruled out.

Mr Meciar gave his seat, and the immunity from prosecution it brings, to the man who has led the secret service for the last four years - Ivan Lexa.

This outraged some, who have claimed Mr Lexa was behind the kidnapping of the son of the former President, Michal Kovac, as well as the subsequent murder of a witness.

The incoming interior minister has even said that Mr Lexa belongs behind bars.

The whole affair points to the main task the new government has set itself.

That is an inventory of what has been called Slovakia's democracy deficit - the shortcomings that, under Mr Meciar's leadership, caused it to be excluded from plans for Nato and European Union expansion.

Getting back on board the expansion process is Mr Dzurinda's main foreign policy objective.