Peter Pellegrini wins the presidential election, according to an almost complete count

The ally of the Slovak populist government, Peter Pellegrini, won the presidential election on Saturday April 6, according to a count of 99% of the ballots.

Mr. Pellegrini obtained 53.55% of the votes against 46.44% for the pro-European diplomat Ivan Korcok, according to figures published by the Slovak Statistical Office.

Mr. Korcok admitted defeat and congratulated his opponent. “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 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 “a non-transparent campaign”. “It turns out that it is possible to become president of the Slovak Republic by spreading hatred”he said.

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.

An ally of the populist government favorable to Russia

Former Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini is a car lover, a licensed airplane pilot and an ally of the populist pro-Russia government.

Supported by Prime Minister Robert Fico, the outgoing president of parliament, aged 48, pledged during his electoral campaign to “unite a divided Slovakia” saying that the country needed ” serenity “.

According to him, “the Slovak political scene is divided between those who are in favor of continuing the war [entre la Russie et l’Ukraine] at all costs, and those who demand the opening of peace negotiations”. “I belong to the latter category”he told Agence France-Presse before the elections.

An economist by training, he joined Mr. Fico’s populist Smer-SD party and was part of his ally’s previous governments, before succeeding him as prime minister. In 2020, Pellegrini founded his own party, Hlas-SD.

Coming third in last year’s legislative elections, his party is a member, with Smer-SD and the far-right SNS, of the ruling coalition.

He will officially become the sixth Slovak president on June 15, 2024.