Ivan Korcok received 40.3% of the vote, compared to 38.4% for Peter Pellegrini, according to the Slovak Statistical Office. The second round of presidential voting in Slovakia will take place on April 6.
The president ratifies international treaties, appoints key judges, and is commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The head of this country of 5.4 million inhabitants, a member of NATO and the European Union, can also veto laws adopted by Parliament.