The victory in the first round of the Slovak presidential elections surprisingly clearly goes to the liberal career diplomat and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia, Ivan Korčok. After more than 99.9 percent of the votes had been counted, Korčok unexpectedly remained well ahead of the government candidate of the left-wing party Hlas (Vote) with 42.5 percent. Parliament President Peter Pellegrini received only about 37 percent. The second election will take place on April 6.
In concrete terms, Korčok managed to defeat Pellegrini by more than 120,000 votes. The Social Democrat did not live up to his role as favorite. Shortly before the vote, a majority of voters had seen Pellegrini as the winner of the first round of voting. The other nine candidates also fell far short of expectations.
Third place, right-wing nationalist ex-president of the Slovak Supreme Court, Štefan Harabin, ultimately received less than 12 percent of the vote. The other candidates did not even reach three percent. Voter turnout in the elections was over 51 percent, well above estimates.
Pellegrini was somewhat hesitant to accept his defeat on election night. “I congratulate Ivan Korčcok, we both made it to the second round,” he said at his election headquarters. He expects “a tough duel” before the second election, but wants to maintain his former decency.
“We have taken a big step”
The outcome of the first round looked hopeful and encouraging, the ex-diplomat said. “We have taken a big step, but the path ahead now begins again,” he said. He stands with both feet on the ground. “We have to do more in the second round to win,” Korčok emphasized.
A stronger election campaign is expected
According to observers, the outcome of the first round could be an additional mobilization factor, especially for liberal voters who were convinced that the election winner had long been clear. A tougher election campaign can also be expected before the second election. In the next two weeks before the final, both Pellegrini and Korčok will try to win over voters from the unsuccessful candidates.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
