(Reuters) – Slovaks vote in a presidential election on Saturday that could strengthen Prime Minister Roberto Fico's grip on power as he seeks greater control over public media, loosening anti-corruption laws and speaking out against EU aid to Ukraine. be.
The first round of voting will take place from 7am (6pm GMT) to 10pm (9pm GMT). If no one wins a majority this weekend, a runoff between the top two candidates will be held on April 6.
Mr. Fico's ally Peter Pellegrini, 48, is the front-runner in the race to replace President Zuzana Caputova, 50, who is fiercely opposed to Mr. Fico, but is not seeking reelection.
Mr. Fico pledged to end military aid to Ukraine fighting the Russian invasion, continue spending to help people hit by soaring prices and end the chaotic governance seen during the previous opposition era. He won the support of voters and returned to power in the elections held in September last year. He led the administration.
Pellegrini, a former prime minister and member of Fico's left-wing ruling SMER party and now head of junior coalition partner HLAS, hopes to repeat that success.
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On the list of candidates, he faces Ivan Korkok, 59, a pro-EU former foreign minister who wants to prevent the government from seizing the presidency.
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Although Slovakia's president does not exercise much executive power, he plays a role in appointing government and other officials and can shape public debate, as the liberal Mr. Caputova has often done.
In the past, voters often refused to give both the government and the presidency to the ruling party. Mr. Caputova won the last presidential election in 2019 on the back of an anti-corruption wave that targeted Mr. Fico's party, then in power.
Fico, a four-time prime minister, has quickly reversed Slovakia's policy, most notably by halting state military supplies to Ukraine (while still allowing commercial supply agreements); The goal is to talk to Moscow despite the EU's desire to isolate the Russian regime.
Mr. Pellegrini, like Mr. Fico, says there is no military solution to the Ukraine conflict and supports peace talks between Kiev and Moscow, while Mr. Korcok, like other critics, says there is no military solution to the Ukraine conflict; He claims that he will surrender if he does.
Fico's coalition government is also pushing ahead with reforms to the criminal code that critics say weaken the fight against corruption. As president, Caputova challenged the changes in the Constitutional Court.
The government also closed the Special Prosecution Unit, a move the European Commission expressed regret this week.
The government is currently planning changes that will tighten its control over public broadcaster RTVS, raising concerns among media organizations and advocates. Mr. Colcok criticizes the government's expansion of power.
(Reporting by Jason Hovet in Prague; Editing by Angus McSwan)
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