Slovakia's Presidential Race: Pellegrini vs. Korcok
According to partial results reported by news.ro, Peter Pellegrini, the president of the Slovak Parliament, who is close to Prime Minister Robert Fico, and Ivan Korcok, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, will compete in the second round of presidential elections after emerging victorious in the first round on Saturday.
According to the Slovak Statistical Office, after counting 64% of the votes, Peter Pellegrini received 40.39% of the votes, compared to 36.90% for Ivan Korcok.
The second round of voting is scheduled for April 6.
Pellegrini is aligned with Slovakia's populist Prime Minister, Robert Fico, whereas Ivan Korcak is a former Minister of Foreign Affairs with pro-European views.
The presidential elections in Slovakia offer Fico, whose pro-Russia stance on Ukraine has drawn criticism for being too close to Russia, an opportunity to consolidate power.
The war in Ukraine, along with high inflation and chaotic governance under the opposition-led coalition during 2020-2023, has polarised debates in Slovakia, an EU and NATO member state.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
