Slovak nationalist-left government candidate Peter Pellegrini won the country’s presidential election on Saturday, 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.
Pellegrini, seen as more moderate than Fico, said earlier on Saturday his election would not mean a rush to any fundamental change in foreign policy. “This is not about the future direction of foreign policy. I also guarantee, like the other candidate, that we will continue to be a strong member of the E.U. and NATO,” he said after voting in Rovinka on the outskirts of the capital. Korcok conceded defeat and congratulated Pellegrini, but lashed out at him for winning by spreading fear.
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