Slovakia’s Presidential Poll Fight Between Pro-Russia and Pro-Western Camp
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
BRATISLAVA (Worthy News) – Voters in Slovakia were returning to the polls Saturday for the second round of their small country’s presidential election, in which they choose whether to move towards the European Union or Russia.
The contest pits pro-European diplomat Ivan Korčok, who unexpectedly came top in the first round with 42.5 percent, against social democrat Peter Pellegrini, the current parliament speaker.
Analysts said at stake is whether Prime Minister Robert Fico, who took power in October for the fourth time, will get an ally in the presidential palace or an opponent who could challenge his pro-Russian stance.
The opponent was also expected to support reforming criminal legislation and the media, which raised concern over the weakening of the rule of law and democratic values.
For Korcok, 60, the main battle cry has been not to give Fico and his coalition all executive positions.
Pellegrini, 48, has tried to portray Korcok as a war-monger for his support for arming Ukraine and suggested he may take Slovak troops into the war, which Korcok denies.
WAR RHETORIC
Outgoing President Zuzana Caputova, a human rights lawyer not seeking a second term, criticized the war rhetoric in a television address on Wednesday.
“I am sorry that playing with fear was part of this campaign,” Caputova said.
“I have had the opportunity to get to know both presidential candidates during my five years in office, and I can say with a clear conscience that neither Peter Pellegrini nor Ivan Korcok will drag us into any war and will not send any of our soldiers to Ukraine.”
Pellegrini is a close ally of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
He heads the left-wing Hlas (Voice) party, which finished third in last September’s parliamentary elections.
It then joined a governing coalition with Fico’s leftist Smer (Direction) party and the ultranationalist Slovak National Party.
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