Russian-backed prime minister's ally wins presidential election

(Reuters) — Peter Pellegrini, the left-wing nationalist Slovak government candidate, won the country's presidential election on Saturday, consolidating its influence. Pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Figo About Slovakia.

Pellegrini, 48, referred to the outgoing liberal president, Jusana Kaputova, and insisted her victory was due to support for the government's agenda and rejection of the “opportunistic opposition power centre”.

Fico, who began his fourth term last October, has steered Slovak foreign policy toward more pro-Russian positions and launched reforms to criminal law and media regulation, raising concerns about the erosion of the rule of law.

According to results from 99.66% of electoral districts, Pellegrini received 53.26% of the vote, while pro-Western opposition candidate Ivan Gorkoc received 46.73%.

Although Slovak presidents have limited executive powers, they can veto laws or challenge them in the Constitutional Court. They also appoint judges to the Constitutional Court, which could affect the political conflict surrounding Figo's reforms, which would reduce penalties for corruption.

Figo's coalition, which includes a party led by Pellegrini, halted official arms shipments from Slovakia to Ukraine.

Figo has criticized what he sees as Western intervention in the conflict, and has warned of the danger of Slavic nations turning hostile towards each other.

Pellegrini called Korčak a warmonger for his support for arming Ukraine and suggested Korčak might involve Slovak troops in the neighboring country's conflict, a claim Korčak denied.