BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — A detailed ally of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico beat a pro-Western profession diplomat to develop into Slovakia’s new president, and succeed Zuzana Čaputová, the nation’s first feminine head of state.
Parliamentary speaker Peter Pellegrini acquired 53.26% of the vote with the ballots from nearly all polling stations counted by the Statistics Workplace in Saturday’s runoff election, topping former International Minister Ivan Korčok who had 46.73%.
“I can promise I will likely be a president of all Slovak residents,” Pellegrini mentioned. “I can promise I will be at all times by the facet of Slovakia.”
Pellegrini turns into Slovakia’s sixth president for the reason that nation gained independence after the break up of Czechoslovakia in 1993.
Čaputová, a staunch backer of neighboring Ukraine in its struggle in opposition to Russia’s invasion, didn’t search a second time period within the largely ceremonial put up.
Pellegrini’s victory cemented Fico’s grip on energy by giving him and his allies management of main strategic posts.
The president of the nation of 5.4 million folks picks the prime minister after parliamentary elections, swears within the new authorities and appoints Constitutional Court docket judges. The president also can veto legal guidelines, although Parliament can override the veto with a easy majority, and problem them on the Constitutional Court docket. The pinnacle of state additionally has the best to pardon convicts.
The federal government, led by the prime minister, possesses most government powers.
Fico’s leftist Smer (Path) celebration received Sept. 30 parliamentary elections on a pro-Russian and anti-American platform.
Pellegrini, 48, who favors a robust function for the state, heads the left-wing Hlas (Voice) celebration that completed third within the vote and joined a governing coalition with Fico and the ultranationalist Slovak Nationwide Occasion.
Critics fear Slovakia below Fico will abandon its pro-Western course and comply with the course of Hungary below populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
The brand new authorities instantly halted any arms deliveries to Ukraine. Hundreds have repeatedly taken to the streets throughout Slovakia not too long ago to rally in opposition to Fico’s pro-Russian and different insurance policies, together with plans to amend the penal code and take management of the general public media.
“A majority of individuals in Slovakia mentioned that they like this manner of ruling,” Fico mentioned in his feedback.
Korčok was crucial of the federal government’s strikes that the protesters worry may undermine the rule of regulation whereas Pellegrini backed the brand new authorities and didn’t query its insurance policies.
Korčok is the previous ambassador to america and Germany, who additionally served because the nation’s envoy to NATO and the European Union. He firmly helps Slovakia’s EU and NATO memberships.
He conceded the defeat and congratulated the winner.
“I’m upset,” he mentioned in regards to the outcome.
Pellegrini, who was Fico’s former deputy in Smer, turned prime minister in 2018, after Fico was compelled to resign following main anti-government avenue protests over the killing of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancee.
Pellegrini had quickly parted methods with Fico after the scandal-tainted Smer misplaced the earlier election in 2020.
With Pellegrini’s win, Fico rebounded from two straight presidential election losses. Fico was defeated on the presidential vote by Andrej Kiska 10 years in the past whereas Čaputová claimed victory over a candidate he supported within the 2019 poll.