Slovak Nationalist Peter Pellegrini Leading in Country's Presidential Election

Slovak nationalist and government candidate Peter Pellegrini is poised to come out on top in the country's presidential election, according to the results from most voting districts and projections released on Saturday. His potential victory would be seen as a win for Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has been shifting towards a more pro-Russian foreign policy stance and has been implementing controversial reforms in criminal law and media regulations. These reforms have sparked concerns about the erosion of the rule of law in Slovakia.

Pellegrini, with the backing of the nationalist-left ruling coalition, currently holds 56.7 percent of the vote compared to 43.3 percent for his opponent, pro-Western opposition candidate Ivan Korcok, according to results from 80.

1 percent of voting districts. While Korcok may still gain more votes in urban districts, forecast models from two Slovak media outlets suggest that he may not be able to bridge the gap. Although the role of the Slovak president is largely ceremonial with limited executive powers, they do have the authority to veto legislation or challenge it in the constitutional court.

They also have the responsibility of nominating constitutional court judges, who could play a crucial role in the ongoing political disputes surrounding Fico's contentious reforms aimed at reducing punishments for corruption. During his campaign, Pellegrini, who is 48 years old, has sought to paint Korcok as aggressive for his support of arming Ukraine and has insinuated that Korcok may be willing to involve Slovak troops in conflicts, a claim that Korcok has denied. Despite being perceived as more moderate compared to Fico, Pellegrini has reassured voters that his election would not result in a drastic shift in foreign policy.

"This is not about the future direction of foreign policy. I am also committed, like the other candidate, to maintaining Slovakia's strong membership in the EU and NATO," Pellegrini stated after casting his vote in Rovinka on the outskirts of the capital. Korcok, a 60-year-old independent candidate, previously served as Slovakia's representative to the EU and later as ambassador to the U.S. He also held the foreign affairs portfolio in center-right governments from 2021 to 2022. During his tenure, Slovakia was a staunch supporter of Ukraine, providing military assistance including air defense systems and fighter jets.

However, Fico's government suspended these supplies after coming into power. Pellegrini, currently serving as the speaker of parliament, was a close ally of Fico, who appointed him as prime minister following Fico's resignation amidst public outcry over corruption following the murder of an investigative journalist in 2018. Pellegrini later parted ways with Fico to establish his own party, Hlas (Voice), which is more centrist and liberal compared to Fico's populist-leftist SMER-SSD party.

However, he formed a coalition government with Fico and the nationalist SNS party in October. The outcome of the presidential election in Slovakia will have significant implications for the country's future direction in terms of foreign policy, rule of law, and relations with neighboring countries. It remains to be seen how the elected president will navigate these challenges and uphold the principles of democracy and good governance in Slovakia.