Pro-Russia candidate Peter Pellegrini elected Slovakia president : NPR

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — An in depth ally of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico beat a pro-Western profession diplomat to turn into Slovakia’s new president, and succeed Zuzana Čaputová, the nation’s first feminine head of state.

Parliamentary speaker Peter Pellegrini obtained 53.26% of the vote with the ballots from virtually all polling stations counted by the Statistics Workplace in Saturday’s runoff election, topping former International Minister Ivan Korčok who had 46.73%.

“I can promise I will probably be a president of all Slovak residents,” Pellegrini mentioned. “I can promise I will be all the time by the aspect of Slovakia.”

Pellegrini turns into Slovakia’s sixth president because the nation gained independence after the break up of Czechoslovakia in 1993.

Čaputová, a staunch backer of neighboring Ukraine in its struggle in opposition to Russia’s invasion, did not search a second time period within the largely ceremonial put up.

Pellegrini’s victory cemented Fico’s grip on energy by giving him and his allies management of main strategic posts.

The president of the nation of 5.4 million folks 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 top of state additionally has the appropriate to pardon convicts.

The federal government, led by the prime minister, possesses most government powers.

Fico’s leftist Smer (Course) occasion gained Sept. 30 parliamentary elections on a pro-Russian and anti-American platform.

Pellegrini, 48, who favors a powerful position for the state, heads the left-wing Hlas (Voice) occasion that completed third within the vote and joined a governing coalition with Fico and the ultranationalist Slovak Nationwide Social gathering.

Critics fear Slovakia beneath Fico will abandon its pro-Western course and comply with the route of Hungary beneath populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

The brand new authorities instantly halted any arms deliveries to Ukraine. Hundreds have repeatedly taken to the streets throughout Slovakia just lately to rally in opposition to Fico’s pro-Russian and different insurance policies, together with plans to amend the penal code and take management of the general public media.

“A majority of individuals in Slovakia mentioned that they like this manner of ruling,” Fico mentioned in his feedback.

Korčok was crucial of the federal government’s strikes that the protesters worry may undermine the rule of legislation whereas Pellegrini backed the brand new authorities and did not query its insurance policies.

Korčok is the previous ambassador to the USA and Germany, who additionally served because the nation’s envoy to NATO and the European Union. He firmly helps Slovakia’s EU and NATO memberships.

He conceded the defeat and congratulated the winner.

“I am upset,” he mentioned concerning the end result.

Pellegrini, who was Fico’s former deputy in Smer, turned prime minister in 2018, after Fico was pressured to resign following main anti-government road protests over the killing of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancee.

Pellegrini had briefly parted methods with Fico after the scandal-tainted Smer misplaced the earlier election in 2020.

With Pellegrini’s win, Fico rebounded from two straight presidential election losses. Fico was defeated on the presidential vote by Andrej Kiska 10 years in the past whereas Čaputová claimed victory over a candidate he supported within the 2019 poll.