Ally of the populist government favorable to Russia, Peter Pellegrini, won the presidential election in Slovakia on Saturday April 6. This trained economist obtained 53.20% of the votes against 46.80% for the pro-European diplomat Ivan 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,” Peter Pellegrini said in a speech to his supporters. “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”.
Peter Pellegrini was a minister in the previous governments of Robert Fico. 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 Robert Fico to resign. In his last article, published posthumously, Jan Kuciak revealed links between the Italian mafia and the Fico government.
In Orban's footsteps?
In place since October, the current government made up of Robert Fico's Smer-SD party, Peter Pellegrini's Hlas-SD party and the small far-right SNS party, has also cut off military aid to neighboring Ukraine.
"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.
Ivan Korcok admitted his defeat and congratulated his opponent.
Pro-European presidential candidate in Slovakia and former Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok speaks to journalists on April 6, 2024 in Bratislava © TOMAS BENEDIKOVIC / AFP
“I would like to congratulate the winner of the election, Peter Pellegrini,” this former Foreign Minister 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”.
Campaign against the backdrop of war in Ukraine
“It turns out that it is possible to become president of the Slovak Republic by spreading hatred,” he said, criticizing Peter Pellegrini and his camp for having presented him during the campaign as a “candidate of war", favorable to Slovakia's involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. Peter 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.
President-elect Peter Pellegrini is greeted by a guest during election night on April 6, 2024 in Rovinka, Slovakia © VLADIMIR SIMICEK / AFP
Peter 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, Peter Pellegrini speaks Russian, German and English. Turnout in the second round of voting rose to 61.12% on Saturday.
With AFP
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