Exciting count
Slovakia determines president by runoff election
March 24, 2024, 3:45 a.m
In the presidential election in Slovakia, the two best-placed candidates have to go to the runoff. Krocok calls for resolute arms aid for Ukraine. His rival Pellegrini is relying on caution, following the example of the German Chancellor.
The question of who will become the new head of state in Slovakia will only be decided in a runoff election. On April 6th, ex-Foreign Minister and diplomat Ivan Korcok, who is supported by the liberal opposition, and the Social Democratic Parliament Speaker Peter Pellegrini, who is part of the government camp, will compete against each other.
According to the preliminary final results, Korcok won the first round of the presidential election with 42.5 percent, as the electoral commission announced early this morning. Pellegrini got 37.0 percent. None of the candidates achieved an absolute majority – so a runoff election must decide. The voter turnout was 51.9 percent.
Korcok had promised during the election campaign to be a counterweight to the left-wing nationalist government under Prime Minister Robert Fico. Pellegrini, on the other hand, had the slogan “Slovakia needs calm!” advocated overcoming the deep domestic political divide.
Pro-Russian nationalist defeated
Above all, the attitude towards the Russian war of aggression is one of the conflict issues that divides politics and society in the country. The EU and NATO country Slovakia borders directly on Ukraine. Korcok advocates decisive military support for Ukraine. Pellegrini, on the other hand, urges caution when it comes to arms deliveries, citing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The counting of votes ended in an unexpectedly exciting way. Initially, Pellegrini was clearly ahead of Korcok. After counting the last electoral districts, the result turned around in Korcok’s favor after midnight. The third strongest candidate was the pro-Russian nationalist and former Justice Minister Stefan Harabin with 11.7 percent. The election results should be officially confirmed by Sunday afternoon. Despite her continued popularity, incumbent President Zuzana Caputova decided not to run for a second five-year term.