The pro-Western politician won the presidential election in Slovakia

In Slovakia, former Slovak Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok, who did not share the anti-Western rhetoric of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, won the first round of the presidential election. Bloomberg wrote this on Saturday, March 23.

Ivan Korcok, who said he intended to keep Slovakia in the European mainstream, got 40.3%, ahead of Peter Pellegrini, parliament speaker and member of the ruling Fico coalition, who got 38.4%.

Next, these two candidates will meet in the final round of elections on April 6.

It is indicated that the pro-Russian former head of the Supreme Court Stefan Harabin took third place in terms of the number of votes. He has 11.75%.

At the same time, Bloomberg said the gap between the candidates is small and if Pellegrini wins, it will give Fico more opportunities to push his agenda, which has worried the European Union because of its attempts to overhaul the system of justice of the country and attacks on the media.

Korchok promised to support the country’s pro-European course.

Slovakia’s head of state is known to hold a largely ceremonial position, but can veto laws and appoint officials, judges and central bank governors.

Earlier, Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kaliniak said that NATO countries should not send their troops to Ukraine. Instead, “cowardly” Ukrainian men from abroad have to be sent back to their homeland.

Fico made some scandalous statements. He said he opposes Ukraine’s entry into NATO “because it will be the foundation of the Third World War.” Also, the Prime Minister of Slovakia advised the Ukrainians to give the Russians part of their territories, as this seemed to be the only way to end the war.