Presidential candidate Korcok surprisingly won the first round of elections in Slovakia. But his competitor Pellegrini could have an advantage in the runoff election. Both camps are deeply divided.
His victory is a surprise, but Ivan Korcok doesn’t really want to be happy. “The result of the first round looks hopeful and encouraging, but we all know that if we want to win the decisive election in two weeks, then we have to do more,” he says.
The former ambassador to Germany and the USA received 42.5 percent. Only a few polls had seen him ahead before the start of the presidential election. In most of them, Peter Pellegrini, the coalition partner of the Ukraine-critical and Russia-friendly Prime Minister Robert Fico, was clearly in the lead. Korcok is running as a middle-class candidate from the anti-government protest movement.
Korcok sees Slovakia facing isolation
Korcok himself says he needs and wants to appeal to the government’s tens of thousands of voters who don’t agree with where Fico is taking Slovakia. “They don’t want the public broadcaster to become a state broadcaster. That there are amnesties for criminals. And especially: that Slovakia ends up in isolation in foreign policy.”
A swipe at Peter Pellegrini. The 48-year-old came in second with 37 percent. As President of the Slovak Parliament, he is for many the face of Fico’s Hungarian course.
When casting his vote, Pellegrini, head of a more moderate left-wing party, tried to allay concerns about his possible election as president. Worries, even abroad. “I reject that: Slovakia is clearly anchored in the EU and NATO. We want to defend our national interests. But that doesn’t mean that we are changing the course of our foreign policy,” said Pellegrini.
Pellegrini’s slogan was “Slovakia needs calm!” advocated overcoming the domestic political divide.
Voter mobilization important factor
Voter turnout was just under 52 percent – the second highest since the introduction of direct election of the head of state in 1999. Who will succeed liberal President Zuzana Caputova will primarily be decided by which of the two deeply divided camps can mobilize best.
Viera from Bratislava voted for former Foreign Minister Korcok and wants to support the 59-year-old in the runoff election. He was the only one who traveled extensively throughout the country and spoke to many young people. “This is important because if all the young people emigrate, it will be difficult for us pensioners to build anything here,” says Viera. “He would also be a counterweight to the government.”
Hope remains for Pellegrini
However, Fico’s ally Pellegrini can hope for more votes overall. That of the third-placed Russia friend Stefan Harabin with almost twelve percent and that of the candidate from the Hungarian minority with almost three percent.
Pollsters say that Pellegrini is too moderate for some of these Slovaks, but some of the government voters stayed away from the first round. Unlike Peter: “Pellegrini convinced me the most because he did the most for the people. Furthermore, there was no balance in politics under President Caputova. She came from the same camp as the governments before Fico.”
The independent Korcok has shown that he can win. Whether he will be the next president of Slovakia is anything but certain.
Marianne Allweiss, ARD Prague, tagesschau, March 24, 2024 8:26 a.m