The new coalition government in Slovakia has announced it will propose changing the constitution to have the president elected by direct popular vote.

The Prime Minister, Mikulas Dzurinda, said the four coalition parties had agreed to change the current system, under which parliament elects the president by a three-fifths majority.

Slovakia has been without a head of state since the former president, Michal Kovac, stepped down in March because of the parties'inability to agree a candidate.

Correspondents say the change is likely to lead to speculation that the former prime minister, Vladimir Meciar, who lost in last month's parliamentary election, may use the vote to try to make a come back.