Peter Pellegrini wins Slovak presidential election in unofficial results

By Askin Kıyagan

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AA) - Slovakian Parliament Speaker Peter Pellegrini, supported by Prime Minister Robert Fico, won the second round of the presidential election with 53.24% of the vote, according to unofficial results on Sunday.

Pellegrini, who advanced to the second round March 24, competed with former diplomat Ivan Korkov for the president’s post in a country with approximately 4.3 million voters, said the Slovak Statistical Office

Korkov received 46.76% in the election where approximately 60% of voters went to the polls.

Pellegrini was elected to a term of five years.

Korkov accepted defeat and congratulated Pellegrini.

President Zuzana Caputova also congratulated Pellegrini on his victory and called him on the telephone.

Caputova will hand over her duties June 15.

Experts suggest that Pellegrini, with similar views to Fico on the war in Ukraine, strengthens Fico's hand with his election.

*Writing by Gizem Nisa Cebi in Istanbul