Pellegrini wins Slovak presidential election in boost for pro-Russian PM Fico

Slovak presidents do not have many executive powers, but can veto laws or challenge them in the constitutional court

By Reuters
April 08, 2024
Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, Peter Pellegrini. — AFP/File
Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, Peter Pellegrini. — AFP/File

BRATISLAVA: Slovak nationalist-left government candidate Peter Pellegrini won the country’s presidential election on Sunday, cementing the grip of pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Fico over the country.

Fico, who took power for the fourth time last October, has turned the country’s foreign policy to more pro-Russian views and initiated reforms of criminal law and the media, which have raised concerns over weakening the rule of law.

Pellegrini had 53.26% of the vote, versus 46.73% for pro-Western opposition candidate Ivan Korcok, results from 99.66% of voting districts showed.

Slovak presidents do not have many executive powers, but can veto laws or challenge them in the constitutional court. They nominate constitutional court judges, who may become important in political strife over the fate of Fico’s reforms, which would dramatically ease punishments for corruption.