Slovakia’s new president is anti-populist and pro-eu

A LIBERAL lawyer has ridden a wave of public fury over corruption to win Slovakia’s presidential election, bucking a trend of populist, anti-european Union politicians making gains across the continent.

Zuzana Caputova, a pro-eu political novice who will be the country’s first female president, had 58.3 per cent of the votes after results from 98.1 per cent of voting districts were counted, ahead of Maros Sefcovic, who took 41.7 per cent.

Corruption and change in political style were the main themes ahead of Saturday’s run-off vote, which took place a year after journalist Jan Kuciak, who investigated high-profile fraud cases, and his fiancée were murdered at their home.

Mr Sefcovic, a respected diplomat who is also a European Commissioner, is backed by the ruling party Smer, the largest grouping in parliament that has dominated Slovak politics since 2006.

Ms Caputova campaigned to end what she calls the capture of the state “by people pulling strings from behind”, a message that opinion polls show resonates with younger, educated voters.

The 45-year-old member of the liberal non-parliamentary Progressive Slovakia party – which she pledged to leave if elected – said: “I am happy not just for the result but mainly that it is possible not to succumb to populism, to tell the truth, to raise interest without aggressive vocabulary.”

Slovakia’s president wields little dayto-day power but appoints prime ministers and can veto appointments of senior prosecutors and judges.

Five people have been charged with the murders of Mr Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kusnirova.