ODS leader Vaclav Klaus insisted that the leader of the largest Slovak party, Vladimir Meciar, agree to a tightly knit federation with a strong central government.

Meciar, however, was only willing to agree to a loose confederation in which the Czech lands and Slovakia would both be sovereign.

It soon became apparent that a coalition between the two blocs was not feasible, leading Klaus and Meciar to agree to a "velvet divorce.

"[3] The Federal Assembly formally voted Czechoslovakia out of existence on November 25.

Effective on January 1, 1993, Czechoslovakia split into two countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.