Peter Pellegrini, a close ally of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, is considered the favorite in Slovakia’s presidential race.
A victory for Pellegrini, who currently serves as parliamentary speaker, would consolidate Fico’s power by giving his allies control of key posts in the country.
It would also deprive Slovakia and the EU of important pro-Ukrainian voices. Pellegrini hopes to succeed Zuzana Čaputová, a staunch supporter of Ukraine’s fight against two years of Russian aggression.
Chaputova announced she would not seek re-election. A former liberal environmental activist, she has been repeatedly attacked by Fico for supporting Kiev. Fico won last year’s election on a pro-Russian, anti-American platform and accused Chaputova of being a U.S. agent.
Pellegrini leads nine candidates in the first round of Saturday’s presidential election. If no candidate wins a majority (as expected), the top two candidates will go to a runoff on April 6.
Who is Pellegrini?
Pellegrini, 48, who advocates a strong role for the state, is leader of the left-wing Hlas (Voice) party, which finished third in the Sept. 30 parliamentary election. His party forms a governing coalition with Fico’s Left Direction party and the ultra-nationalist Slovak National Party.
Critics fear that Slovakia under Fico will abandon its pro-Western course and follow the direction of Hungary under populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
The new government immediately stopped supplying arms to Ukraine, even as thousands of people have taken to the streets in recent rallies across Slovakia to oppose Fico’s pro-Russian and other policies, including plans to change the criminal code and control public media.
Pellegrini, Fico’s former deputy in Smail, was forced to resign following massive anti-government street protests following the murder of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée. Nigeria became prime minister in 2018.
Pellegrini temporarily parted ways with Fico after the scandal-plagued Smer lost the last election in 2020.
Other challengers
Opinion polls predict Pellegrini will defeat other candidates in the second round.
Among them is former Foreign Minister Ivan Korčok, 59, a pro-Western career diplomat. He also served as ambassador to the United States and Germany and was a staunch supporter of Slovakia’s membership of the European Union and NATO.
Former justice minister and judge Štefan Harabin, 66, openly supports Russia in its war against Ukraine.
Ján Kubiš, another former foreign minister and career diplomat, and far-right leader Marian Kotleba are other prominent candidates.
presidential powers
The president is elected for a five-year term.
Following parliamentary elections, the president elects the prime minister, swears in a new government, and appoints judges to the Constitutional Court. The president can also veto laws, although parliament can override a veto with a simple majority.
The president also has the power to pardon criminals.
