Slovakia voted in a run-off election for the largely ceremonial post of president on Saturday, choosing between the incumbent president and the strongest opposition candidate. The election was expected to test support for Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has endorsed current President Ivan Gasparovic, a year before the ex-communist EU member and euro zone newcomer holds a parliamentary election.
Gasparovic won the first election round with 46.70 percent of the vote, and analysts expected the 68-year-old lawyer to be re-elected for his second and the final term. He is running against Iveta Radicova, a 52-year-old sociologist and former Social Affairs Minister in the previous cabinet. She was put forward by the Christian Democrat SDKU and got what analysts said was a surprisingly strong 38.05 percent in the March first round.
"Despite the first round results, I don't expect a change, and the second round will be in favour of Gasparovic as well," said Marian Lesko, a columnist for the largest broadsheet daily Sme. "I would be surprised if there was a different result." Gasparovic has been close to Fico and supports his ambition to improve the living standards of those left behind by the belt-tightening reforms of the previous centre-right administration.
Analysts said Fico needed a president who would not use his right of veto on laws, although parliament can overturn that veto. Observers also saw the vote as an indication of the political landscape before a general election due in mid-2010.
Fico is by far the most popular leader and his social democrat Smer party has strong lead in opinion polls, but he faces the prospect of the first ever economic contraction in Slovakia this year and the loss of thousands of jobs. "The strong result of Iveta Radicova in the first round suggests that the lead of Robert Fico and his party might not be irreversible," Lesko said.
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