(Bratislava) The ally of the populist government Peter Pellegrini won the presidential election in Slovakia on Saturday, well ahead of pro-European diplomat Ivan Korcok in the second round, according to almost final results.
Mr. Pellegrini, an economist by training, obtained 53.20% of the votes against 46.80% for Mr. Korcok, according to figures published by the Slovak Statistical Office covering 99.8% of the votes.
Analysts had expected a tighter result.
“It’s a great satisfaction,” Mr. Pellegrini said in a speech to his supporters.
PHOTO EVA KORINKOVA, REUTERS
Peter Pellegrini voting in Bratislava
“I want to be a president who will defend the national interests of Slovakia,” he stressed.
He assured that he wanted to do everything “so that Slovakia remains on the side of peace and not on the side of war”.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been a key element of the electoral campaign in this country of 5.4 million people, particularly since populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, a longtime ally of Mr. Pellegrini , questioned Kyiv’s sovereignty and called for peace with Moscow.
Mr Pellegrini was a minister in Mr Fico’s previous governments. He even replaced him as prime minister after the fall of his government in 2018, following the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée, shot dead in their home.
The double murder sparked a wave of protests across the country that forced Mr. Fico to resign.
In his last article, published posthumously, Mr. Kuciak revealed links between the Italian mafia and the Fico government.
The “Orban Way”?
In place since October, the current government made up of Mr. Fico’s Smer-SD party, Mr. Pellegrini’s Hlas-SD party and the small far-right SNS party, has also cut off military aid to Ukraine neighbor.
“If Pellegrini wins, Slovakia could follow the ‘Orban path’,” said analyst Tomas Koziaka, referring to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is favorable to the Kremlin.
Mr. Korcok admitted defeat and congratulated his opponent.
PHOTO TOMAS BENEDIKOVIC, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Ivan Korcok
“I would like to congratulate the winner of the election, Peter Pellegrini,” this former Minister of Foreign Affairs told the press and his supporters.
He also expressed his hope that “Peter Pellegrini will be independent and that he will act according to his own convictions and without orders”, clearly alluding to the close relationship between the future president and the head of government Robert Fico.
But he also criticized his opponent for “a non-transparent campaign”.
” Hate ”
“It turns out that it is possible to become president of the Slovak Republic by spreading hatred,” he said, criticizing Mr. Pellegrini and his camp for having presented him during the campaign as a “ war candidate”, favorable to Slovakia’s involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.
Mr Pellegrini will replace liberal President Zuzana Caputova.
Although his powers are limited, the president ratifies international treaties, appoints key judges, and is commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He can also veto laws passed by Parliament.
Mr Pellegrini will officially become Slovak president on June 15.
This bachelor was dubbed “the sexiest politician in Slovakia” by women’s magazines some time ago.
When announcing his candidacy, he said he lived alone, adding: “If I am elected president, I will not be accompanied by a first lady or anyone.”
In addition to his native language, Mr. Pellegrini speaks Russian, German and English.
Turnout in the second round of voting rose to 6,112% on Saturday.