Highlights: Peter Pellegrini obtains 53.55% of the votes against 46.44% for pro-European diplomat Ivan Korcok. He succeeds the liberal Zuzana Caputova. Aged 48, the elected president is close to the government of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico. The war in Ukraine, a campaign issue, was one of the key elements of the electoral campaign in this country of 5.4 million inhabitants. The president ratifies international treaties, appoints key judges and is commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

The ally of Slovakia's populist government, Peter Pellegrini, wins Saturday's presidential election, according to a 99% count of ballots. Peter Pellegrini obtains 53.55% of the votes against 46.44%…

Slovakia: Peter Pellegrini wins the presidential election

The ally of Slovakia's populist government, Peter Pellegrini, wins Saturday's presidential election, according to a 99% count of ballots. Peter Pellegrini obtained 53.55% of the votes against 46.44% for pro-European diplomat Ivan Korcok, according to figures published by the Slovak Statistical Office. He succeeds the liberal Zuzana Caputova.

Presidential candidate Peter Pellegrini, left, shakes hands with Prime Minister Robert Fico at his campaign headquarters after the presidential runoff in Bratislava, Slovakia, early Sunday, April 7, 2024. © AP -Denes Erdos

By: RFI with agencies

Ivan Korcok admitted his defeat and congratulated his opponent. “

I would like to congratulate the winner of the election, Peter Pellegrini

,” this former Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2021 and 2022 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 alliance between the future president and the head of government Robert Fico. He also criticized his opponent for “

a non-transparent campaign.” It turns out that it is possible to become president of the Slovak Republic by spreading hatred

,” he said.

Aged 48, the elected president, Peter Pellegrini, is close to the government of populist Robert Fico. Peter Pellegrini was a minister in Robert Fico's previous governments and even replaced him as head of government in 2018.

“

I am running for president to save the government

,” the candidate declared during a televised debate with Ivan Korcok. “

You want to protect the government. I want to protect Slovakia

,” replied his rival.

The war in Ukraine, a campaign issue

Russia's invasion of Ukraine was

one of the key elements of the electoral campaign

in this country of 5.4 million inhabitants, particularly since populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, an ally of Peter Pellegrini, had handed over questioned Kiev's sovereignty and called for peace with Moscow.

In place since last October, the government, made up of Robert Fico's Smer-SD party, Peter Pellegrini's Hlas-SD party and the small far-right SNS party, has cut off military aid to Ukraine.

Could Peter Pellegrini's victory change the country's position vis-à-vis Russia and its war in Ukraine? Calling for unity and recognizing that the vote risked being "

extremely close

", Peter Pellegrini had nevertheless assured earlier in the day, after his vote, that the country would continue with him to be "

a strong member

" of the European Union and NATO. “

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.

Although his powers are limited, the Slovak president ratifies international treaties, appoints key judges and is commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He can also veto laws passed by Parliament.

Also listen to Slovakia: before the second round of the presidential election, press freedom threatened

Slovakia: Peter Pellegrini wins the presidential election

Slovakia: Peter Pellegrini wins the presidential election

The war in Ukraine, a campaign issue

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