PM’s ally elected president

A close ally of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico beat a pro-western career diplomat to become Slovakia’s new president, and succeed Zuzana Caputová, the country’s first female head of state.

Parliamentary Speaker Peter Pellegrini received 53.26 per cent of the vote with the ballots from almost all polling stations counted by the Statistics Office in Saturday’s runoff election, topping former foreign minister Ivan Korcok who had 46.73 per cent. “I can promise I will be a president of all Slovak citizens,” Pellegrini said. “I can promise I’ll be always by the side of Slovakia.”

Pellegrini becomes Slovakia’s sixth president since the country gained independence after the split of Czechoslovakia in 1993.

Caputová, a staunch backer of neighbouring Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion, didn’t seek a second term in the largely ceremonial post. Pellegrini’s victory cemented Fico’s grip on power by giving him and his allies control of major strategic posts.

The president of the nation of 5.4 million people picks the prime minister after parliamentary elections, swears in the new government and appoints Constitutional Court judges. The president can also veto laws, though Parliament can override the veto with a simple majority, and challenge them at the Constitutional Court. The government, led by the prime minister, possesses most executive powers.

Fico’s leftist Smer (Direction) party won Sept. 30 parliamentary elections on a pro-Russian and antiAmerican platform.

Critics worry Slovakia under Fico will abandon its pro-western course and follow the direction of Hungary under populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.