He also expressed his hope that “Peter Pellegrini will be independent and act according to his own convictions and without orders,” referring to the clear alliance between the next president and Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Pellegrini, an economist by training, serves as speaker of parliament and is affiliated with Fico's government, which since coming to power in October has cut off military aid to Ukraine, with which Slovakia shares a small border.
In Slovakia, the head of state has mainly protocol functions, although he is responsible for ratifying international treaties, appointing senior judges, and serving as commander-in-chief of the army. He can also object to laws passed by Parliament.
The president-elect will succeed the current head of state, Zuzana Caputova, who has decided not to run for a second term.
As for the anti-European and pro-Russian Stefan Harabin, who came in third place in the first round two weeks ago with 12% of the votes, he did not support any of the candidates in the second round.
“Save the government”
The Russian invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago became a major issue in the election campaign in the central European country, which has a population of 5.4 million and is a member of the European Union and NATO.
Oliver Ashford is a contributor to Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment and lifestyle. He focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting that helps readers stay informed about current affairs and developments that matter. With an emphasis on accuracy, relevance and accessibility, Oliver aims to present useful information and engaging stories in a straightforward manner, making complex topics easier for readers to understand and follow.