An ally of Slovakia's populist prime minister is preparing a run for president
ABC News
The speaker of Slovakia's Parliament, a close ally of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, says he will run for president
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia -- The speaker of Slovakia's Parliament, Peter Pellegrini, a close ally of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, announced on Friday he will run for president.
Pellegrini, 48, is considered a favorite in the race for the largely ceremonial post, according to public polls. Zuzana Čaputová, the country’s first female president, decided not to seek reelection.
The first round of the election is scheduled for March 23.
Pellegrini, who favors a strong role for the state in society, heads the left-wing Hlas (Voice) party that finished third in the Sept 30 parliamentary election. His party formed a ruling coalition with Fico’s leftist Smer (Direction) party and the ultranationalist Slovak National Party.
Pellegrini, who was Fico’s former deputy in Smer, became prime minister in 2018 after Fico was forced to resign following major anti-government street protests resulting from the 2018 killing of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancee.
