A pro-Western career diplomat faces an ally of the populist premier in Slovakia’s presidential vote

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A professional-Western profession diplomat and a detailed ally of Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico are going through one another in a presidential runoff on Saturday to find out who would be the subsequent head of state.

Former International Minister Ivan Korčok is up towards Peter Pellegrini, who heads a coalition get together in Fico’s authorities, within the vote for the largely ceremonial publish as president of the nation of 5.4 million.

A victory for Pellegrini, who presently serves as Parliament speaker, would cement Fico’s energy by giving him and his allies management of main strategic posts.

It might additionally deprive Slovakia and the European Union of a key pro-Ukrainian voice. The present president, Zuzana Čaputová, a staunch backer of Slovakia’s neighbor Ukraine in its battle towards Russia’s two-year invasion, didn’t stand for a second time period.

A former liberal environmental activist, she has repeatedly come below assault from Fico, who gained Sept. 30 parliamentary elections on a pro-Russian and anti-American platform and has accused Čaputová of being a U.S. agent.

The newest public polls predict a good race. The winner will change into the nation’s sixth head of state since Slovakia gained independence in 1993 after Czechoslovakia cut up in two.

THE RUNOFF

As not one of the 9 candidates gained a majority within the March 23 first spherical, the 2 prime vote-getters superior to the runoff. Korčok gained the primary spherical with 42.5% of the votes, with Pellegrini trailing on 37%. A former justice minister and decide, Štefan Harabin, who has brazenly sided with Russia in its warfare with Ukraine, completed a distant third with 11.7%.

IVAN KORČOK

The 60-year-old will not be affiliated with any political get together however agreed to change into the international minister in 2020 when he was the ambassador to america. Through the coronavirus pandemic, Korčok opposed a secret deal to amass Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine orchestrated by Prime Minister Igor Matovič, calling the vaccine a instrument in Russia’s hybrid warfare towards the West. Korčok represented the pro-business Freedom and Solidarity get together within the publish until 2022. Beforehand, he additionally served because the ambassador to Germany and was the nation’s envoy to NATO and the European Union. He’s married, a father of two who firmly helps Slovakia’s EU and NATO memberships.

PETER PELLEGRINI

Pellegrini, 48, who favors a powerful function for the state, heads the left-wing Hlas (Voice) get together that completed third in final 12 months’s vote. His get together joined a ruling coalition with Fico’s leftist Smer (Course) get together and the ultranationalist Slovak Nationwide Get together. Critics fear Slovakia below Fico will abandon its pro-Western course and comply with the route of Hungary below populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. 1000’s have repeatedly taken to the streets throughout Slovakia lately to rally towards Fico’s pro-Russian and different insurance policies that they worry undermine the rule of regulation whereas voicing their help for Korčok.

Pellegrini, who was Fico’s former deputy in Smer, grew to become prime minister in 2018, after Fico was compelled to resign following main anti-government avenue protests over the killing of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancee. Pellegrini had quickly parted methods with Fico after the scandal-tainted Smer misplaced the earlier election in 2020.

A CAMPAIGN SHAPED BY WAR

The warfare in neighboring Ukraine was a core marketing campaign difficulty. Pellegrini’s candidacy is supported by Fico’s coalition that instantly stopped any army help to Ukraine, saying the battle has no army resolution. Pellegrini accused Korčok of being a warmonger prepared to attract his nation into the warfare by sending troops to Ukraine. Korčok dismissed that.

In Slovakia, the federal government and parliament, however not the president, can approve Slovak troops’ deployment overseas. Pellegrini additionally urged that Slovakia wouldn’t be capable to ship its troops to different NATO members in the event that they have been attacked, a precept of NATO’s collective protection. He claimed the Slovak army will not be armed effectively sufficient to take action.

PRESIDENTIAL POWERS

Elected for a five-year time period, the president picks the prime minister after parliamentary elections, swears within the new authorities and appoints Constitutional Courtroom judges. The president can even veto legal guidelines, although Parliament can override the veto with a easy majority, and problem them on the Constitutional Courtroom. The pinnacle of state additionally has the best to pardon convicts.