Slovakia's left-wing nationalist government candidate Peter Pellegrini is expected to win the country's presidential election, defeating pro-Western opposition candidate Ivan Korcok.
According to the statistics office, in 92.9% of precincts, Pellegrini led with 55% of the vote, compared to 45% for Colcoc.
Following this result, Colcoc admitted defeat.
Pellegrini's victory is a boost for Prime Minister Roberto Fico, who is shifting foreign policy in a more pro-Russian direction and embarking on reforms to criminal law and media that have raised concerns about weakening the rule of law. Dew.
Slovakia's president has little executive power, but he can veto laws and challenge them in the Constitutional Court.
They are nominating judges to the Constitutional Court, and could become key players in the political battle over the Fico reform, which would significantly ease penalties for corruption.
Pellegrini, 48, has tried to portray Korcok as a warmonger who supports armed Ukraine and suggested he might bring Slovak troops into the war, a charge Korcok denies.
Mr. Pellegrini is seen as a more moderate than Mr. Fico and said his selection did not mean he would rush to change foreign policy.
“This is not about the future direction of our foreign policy,” he said after the vote. “This is not about the future direction of our foreign policy. I, like the other candidates, are about ensuring that we remain strong members of the EU and NATO.” Told. capital.
Mr Korcok, 60, an independent, served as Slovakia's special envoy to the EU and then as ambassador to the US before taking over the centre-right government's foreign affairs post in 2021.
At the time, Slovakia was a loyal ally of Ukraine, providing the country with air defense and fighter jets. After taking power, Fico's cabinet suspended the supply of public supplies.
Mr. Pellegrini, who currently heads the parliament, is a longtime ally of Mr. Fico, who was forced to resign amid public protests against corruption following the murder of an investigative journalist in 2018, and Mr. Pellegrini chose him as prime minister.
