Pro-Russian Candidate Wins Slovakia’s Presidential Elections
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
BRATISLAVA/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – The nationalist left government’s pro-Russia candidate, Peter Pellegrini, has won Slovakia’s presidential election with about 53 percent of the vote, in an outcome due to worry the West.
Pellegrini, an ally of populist Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, has made clear he does not want to send weapons to wartorn Ukraine.
He accused his pro-Western rival Ivan Korčok of seeking to send Slovak troops to Ukraine to help it in its battle against Russia.
With almost all votes counted, Korčok, 60, admitted defeat, adding: “I am disappointed.”
He congratulated president-elect Pellegrini, who is expected to support the cabinet’s policies towards Ukraine strongly.
The current leaders of Slovakia and neighboring Hungary, both NATO military alliance member states, want Ukraine and Russia to launch peace talks.
Slovakia’s new government also halted any arms deliveries to Kyiv and criticized Western sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
LEFT-WING
Pellegrini, 48, also favors a vital role for the state. He heads the left-wing Hlas (Voice) party that finished third in the recent parliamentary vote and joined a governing coalition with Fico and the ultranationalist Slovak National Party.
Critics worry Slovakia under Fico will abandon its pro-Western course and follow the direction of Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Thousands have taken to the streets across Slovakia to rally against Fico’s pro-Russian and other policies, such as plans to amend the penal code and take control of public media.
Korčok, a retired diplomat and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia has been critical of the government’s perceived autocratic style.
Though the office is mainly ceremonial, Slovakia’s president ratifies international treaties, appoints top judges, is the armed forces commander-in-chief, and can veto laws passed by parliament.
Outgoing President Zuzana Caputova, an outspoken liberal, used her limited powers to resist Fico, a veteran politician who returned to power in October after years in the political wilderness.
With Pellegrini replacing her, a new political direction is expected in the country of 5.4 million people that Western allies will closely follow.
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