In Slovakia, the two favorites have fought head-to-head and now a runoff election will have to decide who will become the country’s new president. Neither Pellegrini nor Korcok achieved an absolute majority.
There will probably be a runoff election in the presidential election in Slovakia. This emerges from preliminary partial results that the State Election Commission published on Saturday evening after three quarters of the votes were counted.
The Social Democratic parliamentary speaker Peter Pellegrini and the former foreign minister and diplomat Ivan Korcok, who is supported by the liberal opposition, were recently almost on a par with just under 40 percent. According to Slovakian electoral law, a runoff election is necessary if none of the candidates wins an absolute majority.
According to these preliminary results, voter turnout was around 50 percent.
Where is Slovakia headed in the future?
A Pellegrini victory would strengthen controversial Prime Minister Robert Fico, who is seeking greater control over the media, weakening anti-corruption laws and less aid to Ukraine.
Korcok, meanwhile, is supported by the pro-Western liberal opposition and is considered a staunch supporter of Ukraine. The head of state in Slovakia primarily has representative tasks. Outgoing President Zuzana Caputova is not running for a second term.