A pro-Western former top diplomat and a Ukraine-sceptic backed by the ruling populists will compete in a presidential election on Saturday, which might halt Slovakia’s move toward Russia.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has become a staple of the electoral campaign in Slovakia, a European Union and NATO member with 5.4 million inhabitants.
The two contenders, Peter Pellegrini and Ivan Korcok, are running to succeed outgoing leftist President Zuzana Caputova.
They will face off in a critical second round because neither received the required 50 percent of votes in the first round on March 23.
According to the most recent polls, the contenders are virtually tied.
According to an opinion poll conducted by the NMS agency, Pellegrini, the 48-year-old parliament speaker, received 51% of the vote while Korcok received 49%.
Russia’s war in Ukraine, now in its third year, has become a major electoral topic.
Populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, a Pellegrini friend, has questioned Ukraine’s statehood and advocated for peace with Russia.
Korcok, a 59-year-old career diplomat and outspoken government critic supported by the opposition, is strongly pro-Kyiv.
‘Leaning Towards Russia’
Analysts said Slovakia’s foreign policy would continue to be a major topic in the run-off campaign.
“If Korcok is elected, Slovakia will maintain a critical attitude towards Russia, pro-European positions and support for Ukraine,” said analyst Grigorij Meseznikov.
Pellegrini, in turn, “will support … loosening our ties with our allies and partners in NATO and the EU, weaker support for Ukraine and leaning towards Russia”, he told AFP.
Pellegrini was a minister in previous Fico governments.
He became prime minister in 2018 after his long-time ally was toppled as premier. Fico became prime minister again in 2023.
“I am running for president to rescue the government of Robert Fico,” Pellegrini said in a televised debate with Korcok after the first round.
“You want to protect the government. I want to protect Slovakia,” Korcok told his opponent.
The government, in office since last October and comprising Fico’s Smer party, Pellegrini’s Hlas and the small far-right SNS, has discontinued military aid to Ukraine.
“Ivan Korcok is a warmonger who will support everything the West tells him without hesitation, including dragging Slovakia into the war,” Fico said in a video, adding that he supported Pellegrini.
“Peter Pellegrini is a moderate candidate who recognises the value of peace,” he added.
‘Good Advocate For Slovakia’
The opponents understand that they will need to win voters who supported the other seven candidates in the first round.
Stefan Harabin, who came in third place after criticizing the European Union and praising Russian President Vladimir Putin, has not officially supported either of the two candidates ahead of the runoff.
“My voters will know what to do,” Harabin declared following the first round.
According to an AKO poll, more than two-thirds of Harabin voters want to support Pellegrini.
In one of the televised pre-election debates, Pellegrini stated that he could “offer Stefan Harabin’s voters the type of politics they want.”
Vojtech Hromada, an engineer based in Bratislava, told AFP that Korcok would “be a good advocate for Slovakia abroad”.
“He is a good diplomat who has represented us around the world,” the 44-year-old remarked.
Psychologist Vladka Abrusova, 34, stated that she would vote Pellegrini because of his political experience and calm demeanor.
“He never disappointed while holding public office and he radiated serenity and composure,” she went on to say.
Slovakia’s president ratifies international treaties, appoints senior judges, serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and has the authority to veto laws enacted by parliament.
Polling stations are open on Saturday at 7:00 a.m. (0500 GMT) and shut at 10:00 p.m.