The result of Slovakia’s presidential election on Saturday strengthens the policy of the country’s populist prime minister, who is tight-lipped about aid to Ukraine.
Peter Pellegrini received 53 percent of the votes in the presidential election, which has been watched with special interest because of the candidates’ differing positions on Ukraine.
The loser of the Slovak presidential election is pro-Western Ivan Korčok, which received 47 percent of the vote. Almost one hundred percent of the votes had been counted on Sunday morning.
Pellegrini, who won the election, sympathizes with the left-wing populist prime minister Robert Fico, which has turned the direction of Slovakia’s foreign policy more pro-Russia. Fico has even questioned Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Pellegrini’s party, the social democratic Smer, is in the government of Slovakia, the government has suspended arms exports to Ukraine.
Pellegrini has demanded the start of peace talks in Ukraine.
Korčok, who campaigned as an independent candidate, instead emphasized that peace negotiations cannot be started in the current war situation, and that Russia must first hand over the territories it has occupied.
– I will do my best so that Slovakia is on the side of peace and not war, Pellegrini said after the election.
He also said that his election will not change Slovakia’s foreign policy.
– We will continue as strong members of the EU and NATO, he assured.
Fico also wants to intervene in the activities of the media and the judiciary
The populist Prime Minister Fico has also wanted to intervene in the activities of the media and the judiciary. Fico’s board is, among other things presented the law, which would enable political control of the public media. The government has wanted to abolish the old one and establish a new public broadcasting company in the country.
The position of the president in Slovakia is largely ceremonial, but the president ratifies international treaties, appoints judges and serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
48-year-old Peter Pellegrini is the Speaker of the Slovak Parliament.
60-year-old Ivan Korčok is a former Slovak ambassador and former Slovak foreign minister.
Sources: STT, Reuters