- Former Slovakian prime minister and current parliamentary Speaker Peter Pellegrini won the country's presidential election on Saturday, defeating former foreign minister Ivan Korčok in a second round of voting. Al Jazeera (LR: 2 CP: 1)
- According to Slovakia's statistical office, Pellegrini received 53.1% of the vote compared to 46.9% in favor of Korčok. Pellegrini received the most votes in seven out of the country's eight regions. Volbysr
- Pellegrini, backed by Slovakia's pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Fico, called his victory "a huge satisfaction," and promised to keep the country "on the side of peace and not on the side of war." The former prime minister will be sworn in on June 15. www.euractiv.com
- Pellegrini, who has previously stated that Slovakia will remain a member of both the EU and NATO, had alleged in the presidential runoff that Korčok wished to send Slovak troops into Ukraine to arm Kyiv against Moscow — a claim denied by the opposing candidate. Reuters (LR: 3 CP: 5)
- With Pellegrini succeeding Zuzana Caputova, Prime Minister Fico and his allies will hold power in Slovakia's parliament, government, and presidential office. BBC News (LR: 3 CP: 5)
- While the office is centered upon ceremonial duties, Slovakia's president remains the country's commander-in-chief, and can veto laws passed by Slovakia's National Council. Le Monde.fr
Right narrative:
- Pellegrini's win signifies support for Fico's people-first agenda and a rejection of the self-serving establishment elite. Slovakia has voted for change in a presidential election that was not about Ukraine but a fight between conservatism and liberalism. Albeit a mistake to call either Pellegrini or Fico pro-Russian politicians, and Slovakia remains a NATO member, the country must maintain its national sovereignty and prioritize peace in Eastern Europe above all.
EURONEWS
Left narrative:
- Having used the fear of war as a central theme in his campaign — viciously spreading populist hatred and paranoia — Pellegrini's win in Slovakia's presidential election will only further undermine the country's democratic rule of law, cementing pro-Russian Prime Minister Fico's influence over the country. The sad reality is that, with Pellegrini as president, Slovakia no longer contains a single major figure in power who will stand up against Russia's invasion of Ukraine and fight for what is right.
FIRSTPOST
Nerd narrative:
- There's a 1% chance that any member state will leave the Eurozone before 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
METACULUS (LR: 3 CP: 3)