Slovak

Update Close ally of Slovakia’s populist PM Fico tops pro-Western diplomat to become president

Close ally of Slovakia’s populist PM Fico tops pro-Western diplomat to become president

  • Ukraine-skeptic Peter Pellegrini got 53.85 percent of the vote with the ballots from over 98 percent polling stations counted
  • Western-backed former foreign minister Ivan Korčok, who had 46.14 percent of the vote, conceded defeat
  • Pellegrini’s victory cemented Fico’s grip on power by giving him and his allies control of major strategic posts