BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) 鈥 A pro-western career diplomat defeated a close ally of Slovakia鈥檚 populist Prime Minister Robert Fico in the first round of the presidential election Sunday to set up a runoff between the two to decide who will succeed Zuzana 膶aputov谩, the country鈥檚 first female president.
Former Foreign Minister Ivan Kor膷ok had 42.13% of the votes late Sunday, with nearly all polling stations counted by Slovakia鈥檚 Statistics Office. Peter Pellegrini was in second with 37.28%
Because no candidate won an outright majority, a runoff will be held April 6 in this central European nation of 5.4 million people.
A former justice minister and judge, 艩tefan Harabin, 66, who has openly sided with Russia in its war with Ukraine was a distant third with 11.79%.
In all, nine male candidates sought to become Slovakia's sixth head of state since it gained independence in 1993 after Czechoslovakia split in two.
膶aputov谩, a staunch backer of neighboring Ukraine in its fight against , in the largely ceremonial post.
Kor膷ok called the result 鈥渆ncouraging鈥 and 鈥減romising,鈥 but added that 鈥渨e have to do more to win the runoff."
鈥淚'm planning to approach all voters," he said.
Kor膷ok has also served as Slovakia鈥檚 ambassador to the United States and Germany and firmly supports his country鈥檚 membership in the EU and NATO.
Pellegrini was considered a favorite in the race, and opinion polls suggested he would beat any candidate in the runoff.
He congratulated Kor膷ok on his victory in the first round and predicted a close contest in the runoff.
鈥淚t will likely be a tight race,鈥 Pellegrini said.
A victory for Pellegrini, who currently serves as Parliament speaker, would cement Fico鈥檚 power by giving him and his allies control of strategic posts.
Pellegrini, 48, who favors a strong role for the state, heads the left-wing Hlas (Voice) party that finished third in . His party joined a governing coalition with Fico鈥檚 leftist Smer (Direction) party and the ultranationalist Slovak 春色直播 Party.
The new government immediately halted arms deliveries to Ukraine. Thousands have repeatedly across Slovakia recently to rally against Fico鈥檚 pro-Russian and other policies, including and .
Critics worry Slovakia under Fico will abandon its pro-Western course and follow the direction of Hungary under populist .
Pellegrini said Saturday that Slovakia鈥檚 membership in the European Union and NATO hasn鈥檛 been questioned.
鈥淭hat we talk about a more sovereign voice of Slovakia or about a sovereign foreign policy ... doesn鈥檛 necessarily mean that we change the basic direction of our foreign policy,鈥 Pellegrini said.
