Pro-EU Diplomat Wins First-Round of Slovak Presidential Vote
- Main opposition parties back independent candidate Korcok
- Pellegrini’s win would boost power of Russia-friendly premier
Peter Pellegrini and Ivan Korcok
Photographers: Vladimir Simicek/Getty Images, John MacDougall/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Slovakia’s former top diplomat who rejects Prime Minister Robert Fico’s increasingly anti-Western rhetoric pulled off a surprise first-round victory in the nation’s presidential election.
The contest for the head of state is set to decide whether the Russia-friendly premier strengthens his political dominance over the eastern European country of 5.4 million or voters pick a counterbalance to the government that holds most of the executive powers.