Peter Pellegrini, a Slovak nationalist-left government candidate, has emerged victorious in Slovakia’s presidential election, defeating liberal, pro-western opposition candidate Ivan Korčok.
Pellegrini, a close ally of populist prime minister Robert Fico, secured 53.85% of the vote, with more than 98% of polling stations counted by the Statistics Office in Saturday’s runoff election. His opponent, former foreign minister Korčok, received 46.14% of the vote and conceded defeat, expressing his disappointment.
The newly elected president, Pellegrini, will be Slovakia’s sixth president since the country gained independence in 1993. He will succeed Zuzana Čaputová, the country’s first female head of state.
Pellegrini’s victory solidifies Fico’s hold on power, granting him and his allies control of key strategic positions.
The president of Slovakia is responsible for appointing the prime minister after parliamentary elections, swearing in the new government, and appointing constitutional court judges. The president also holds the power to veto laws, though parliament can override the veto with a simple majority, and challenge them at the constitutional court. The head of state also has the right to pardon convicts.
The government, led by the prime minister, possesses most executive powers.
Fico’s leftist Smer (Direction) party won the parliamentary elections in September on a pro-Russian and anti-American platform.
Pellegrini, 48, who favors a strong role for the state, heads the leftwing Hlas (Voice) party, which finished third in the vote and joined a governing coalition with Fico and the ultranationalist Slovak National party.
Critics are concerned that Slovakia under Fico will shift away from its pro-western stance and align with Hungary’s direction under its populist prime minister, Viktor Orbán.
The new government immediately halted any arms deliveries to Ukraine. Thousands have taken to the streets across Slovakia recently to rally against Fico’s pro-Russian and other policies, including plans to amend the penal code and take control of the public media.
Korčok was critical of the government’s moves, which protesters fear could undermine the rule of law, while Pellegrini backed the new government and did not question its policies.
Korčok is the former ambassador to the US and Germany, for which he also served as envoy to Nato and the EU. He firmly supports Slovakia’s EU and Nato memberships.
Pellegrini, who was Fico’s former deputy in Smer, became prime minister in 2018, after Fico was forced to resign after major anti-government street protests over the killing of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancee.
Pellegrini had temporarily parted ways with Fico after the scandal-tainted Smer lost the previous election in 2020.
With Pellegrini’s win, Fico rebounded from two straight presidential election losses. Fico was…
2024-04-06 17:49:56
Post from www.theguardian.com