(Reuters) – Slovaks are called to the polls on Saturday for a presidential election in which Prime Minister Robert Fico could see his position strengthened.
Polling stations will open from 7:00 a.m. (06:00 GMT) to 10:00 p.m. If none of the candidates wins a majority after the vote, a second round will be organized on April 6.
Peter Pellegrini, ally of Robert Fico, is the favorite to replace the outgoing president, Zuzana Caputova, at the head of state. Zuzana Caputova, fervent opponent of Robert Fico, is not seeking a new mandate.
Slovak left-wing leader Robert Fico was appointed prime minister last year for a four-year term, after pledging during the election campaign to end his country’s aid to Ukraine and criticizing European Union sanctions against Russia.
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Peter Pellegrini, 48, former Prime Minister and member of SMER-Social Democracy, Robert Fico’s party, hopes to win the election.
Ivan Korcok, 59, a former pro-European foreign minister, is among the candidates.
The Slovak president has mainly honorary powers, but he appoints members of the government and other institutions and can influence public debate.
(Jason Hovet in Prague; French version Camille Raynaud)
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