Slovak Presidential Election: PM Fico's Proxy Wins, Giving Coalition Full Control
Slovakia's presidency has been won by Peter Pellegrini, a proxy of Prime Minister Robert Fico, in a runoff election against pro-West career diplomat Ivan Korčok.
With 93% of votes counted, Pellegrini received 55% of the votes, giving Fico's ruling coalition complete control over the executive and legislative branches in Bratislava.
Pellegrini celebrated his victory, while Korčok conceded and criticized the aggressive campaign tactics used by the Pellegrini camp.
In Slovakia, the presidency has limited powers, but Fico's coalition government, including Pellegrini's Hlas party, placed significant importance on controlling it.
After losing the first round of the presidential election to Korčok by five percentage points, Pellegrini initially promised to maintain decency and avoid aggressive tactics.
However, just two days later, Fico publicly denounced Korčok as a "warmonger" who supports the West's actions in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and could drag Slovakia into war.
Slovakia's former foreign minister, Miroslav Lajčák Korčok, and Social Affairs Minister Erik Tomáš clashed over the country's potential involvement in the conflict in Ukraine and the impact on social benefits.
Korčok, an opposition figure, argued that the power to declare war lies with the government and parliament, not the president.
He expressed support for Ukraine but opposed sending Slovak soldiers, citing increased security for Slovakia if Ukraine prevails.
Tomáš, from the ruling party, warned that if Korčok became president and the government fell, social benefits for seniors and at-risk groups would be lost.
Tomáš and Pellegrini spoke at a press conference about social benefits for pensioners.
Tomáš did not clarify how Korčok caused the government to fall or the presidency's role in approving benefits.
Pellegrini criticized the previous government, where Korčok served as foreign minister, for freezing pension increases during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In response, Tomáš announced a €300 one-time payment and €600 Christmas bonus for pensioners, while Defense Minister Kaliňák announced a €500 spring bonus for soldiers and ministry employees.
The Slovak government, led by Prime Minister Eduard Pellegrini of the Hlas party, announced a €500 bonus for 23,000 healthcare workers before the second round of presidential elections.
The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party accused the government of election corruption.
In a similar move, Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok announced a €500 bonus for 24,000 police and firefighters.
A doctored image of a soldier and an older woman, shared by Hlas party members, was exposed as a manipulated image with a Ukrainian soldier's shoulder patch photoshopped out.
Slovakian politician Korčok expressed concern over the presidency being won through non-transparent means and spreading hatred during the campaign, accusing the winner of being a war candidate.
Pellegrini celebrated his victory, while Korčok conceded and criticized the aggressive campaign tactics used by the Pellegrini camp.
In Slovakia, the presidency has limited powers, but Fico's coalition government, including Pellegrini's Hlas party, placed significant importance on controlling it.
After losing the first round of the presidential election to Korčok by five percentage points, Pellegrini initially promised to maintain decency and avoid aggressive tactics.
However, just two days later, Fico publicly denounced Korčok as a "warmonger" who supports the West's actions in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and could drag Slovakia into war.
Slovakia's former foreign minister, Miroslav Lajčák Korčok, and Social Affairs Minister Erik Tomáš clashed over the country's potential involvement in the conflict in Ukraine and the impact on social benefits.
Korčok, an opposition figure, argued that the power to declare war lies with the government and parliament, not the president.
He expressed support for Ukraine but opposed sending Slovak soldiers, citing increased security for Slovakia if Ukraine prevails.
Tomáš, from the ruling party, warned that if Korčok became president and the government fell, social benefits for seniors and at-risk groups would be lost.
Tomáš and Pellegrini spoke at a press conference about social benefits for pensioners.
Tomáš did not clarify how Korčok caused the government to fall or the presidency's role in approving benefits.
Pellegrini criticized the previous government, where Korčok served as foreign minister, for freezing pension increases during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In response, Tomáš announced a €300 one-time payment and €600 Christmas bonus for pensioners, while Defense Minister Kaliňák announced a €500 spring bonus for soldiers and ministry employees.
The Slovak government, led by Prime Minister Eduard Pellegrini of the Hlas party, announced a €500 bonus for 23,000 healthcare workers before the second round of presidential elections.
The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party accused the government of election corruption.
In a similar move, Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok announced a €500 bonus for 24,000 police and firefighters.
A doctored image of a soldier and an older woman, shared by Hlas party members, was exposed as a manipulated image with a Ukrainian soldier's shoulder patch photoshopped out.
Slovakian politician Korčok expressed concern over the presidency being won through non-transparent means and spreading hatred during the campaign, accusing the winner of being a war candidate.
Translation:
Translated by AI
