Bratislava, Slovakia – On March 23, Slovaks will head to the polls to elect a new president, as announced by Parliament Speaker Peter Pellegrini. The potential second round of direct elections, if needed, is scheduled for two weeks later. Pellegrini, who legally determines the election date, is also considering a presidential bid and currently leads in opinion polls.

Acknowledging the possibility of his candidacy, Pellegrini indicated that he would officially declare his intention next week if approved by the board of his party, Hlas-SD. The incumbent president, Zuzana Caputova, will conclude her five-year term in mid-June after announcing her decision not to seek re-election last year.

Opinion polls position Pellegrini as the most trusted Slovak politician, making him a frontrunner in the presidential race. His principal competitor is former foreign minister Ivan Korcok, endorsed by the opposition movement Progressive Slovakia (PS). PS emphasizes the importance of diversifying political leadership and argues against the dominance of the current governing coalition in top political positions.

Pellegrini, formerly associated with Smer-SD, the party of current Prime Minister Robert Fico, left in 2020 to establish Hlas-SD, which secured the third position in last year’s early parliamentary elections. Despite considering a presidential run, Pellegrini intends to retain his roles as parliament speaker and chairman of Hlas-SD for the time being.

Another contender, former foreign minister Jan Kubis, has reportedly collected the required 15,000 signatures for his presidential bid. Candidates can also be nominated by a minimum of 15 members of parliament.

While Smer-SD pledged support for Pellegrini’s potential candidacy, the Slovak National Party (SNS), the smallest coalition party, sought a stronger position in the government in exchange for its support, a proposition rejected by Hlas-SD. SNS chair Andrej Danko, considering his own candidacy, started collecting signatures last week.

To secure victory in the first round, a candidate must obtain a majority of valid votes from eligible voters, a feat never achieved. Consequently, the second round will determine the winner between the top two candidates from the initial vote. As Slovakia gears up for this crucial election, the political landscape is poised for potential shifts in leadership and coalition dynamics.

Article by Prague Forum