The pro-European former Slovak foreign minister scored a surprise victory in the first round of the presidential election and is heading to the second round with a key ally of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, Reuters reported.
Slovakia’s presidential election is a chance for Fico, whose views on Ukraine have drawn the ire of critics of getting too close to Russia, to strengthen his influence in power. The opposition forces want to create a greater counterweight to his rule, according to Reuters, quoted by BTA.
The change in the government’s foreign policy, attempts to overhaul the country’s criminal code and clashes with the media have led to a series of protests and criticism from President Zuzana Chaputova, who is a fierce opponent of Fico but is not running for a new term.
Ivan Korchok, 59, a career diplomat who was foreign minister in the previous government, is trying to follow her line in politics and won the most votes among nine candidates in the first round of the election.
His result was 42.4% of the vote with ballots counted in 99.7% of constituencies, well above the 37.1% for Peter Pellegrini, the speaker of parliament who heads the Glas (Hlas) party, which is part of Fico’s governing coalition. The two will appear in the second round on April 6.
Former head of the Supreme Court, who has pro-Russian views, Stefan Harabin, came third in terms of votes received – only 11.75%, after receiving support from a nationalist party that is also in the government coalition. His voters could give Pellegrini a boost in the second round of the election.
Fico and his ruling left-wing Smer party won parliamentary elections last September on promises to end military aid to Ukraine and support people affected by price spikes.
Pellegrini, a former prime minister and former member of Smer, was a key figure in the formation of the coalition.
Korchok is trying to prevent the government from getting the office of president, a position that doesn’t enjoy much executive power but has a role in government and judicial appointments, can veto laws and influences public debate, as it did more than once Chaputova.
Voters in Slovakia have often rejected giving ruling parties both the government and the presidency in the past, including Čaputová’s 2019 victory when anti-corruption sentiment damaged Fico’s then-in-government party.
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