Slovaks began voting in the first round of the presidential election on Saturday, a race that looks set to boil down to a fight between a representative of the ruling political camp close to Russia and a pro-Ukraine candidate backed by the opposition, AFP reports.

According to polls, Parliament Speaker Peter Pellegrini has 37% of the vote, compared to 36% for Ivan Korkok, a former foreign minister and seasoned diplomat.

If none of the nine candidates receives more than 50% of the vote, a second round will be necessary on April 6. Voting will end at 10:00 p.m. (11:00 p.m. in Romania), no exit polls will be held.

Korchok is pro-Ukrainian, Pellegrini is on the opposite position

Pellegrini, a former prime minister, has the support of current populist Prime Minister Robert Fizo, who refuses military aid to Ukraine, questions the country’s sovereignty and calls for peace with Russia.

Instead, Kortsok defends the Ukrainian cause. His views are similar to those of former president Zuzana Chaputova, an outspoken critic of the government who decided not to run for a second term.

Among the other candidates in the race, Eurosceptic Stefan Harabin, 66, who has openly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, is third in the polls.

Slovakia could follow the path of Hungary

Analysts note that the head of state, who approves Robert Fizo’s policy, could strengthen the anti-Ukrainian position of this country with a population of 5.4 million inhabitants, a member of NATO and the EU.

“If Mr Pellegrini wins, Slovakia could follow (Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor) Orbán’s path in foreign policy,” analyst Tomasz Koziak told AFP.

The war in neighboring Ukraine divided Slovaks during the election campaign.

In the final debate before the vote, Pellegrini, 48, called for an “immediate ceasefire and the start of peace talks” between Kyiv and Moscow.

A position condemned by Korkok, 59. “The Russian Federation violated international law (…). I don’t think Ukraine needs to give up part of its territory to achieve peace,” he told AFP.

“Peace cannot be synonymous with surrender,” he insisted.

Fico put Pellegrini in high positions

Korkok is backed by the opposition, which believes Pellegrini’s victory will pave the way for a presidential pardon for government allies guilty of corruption.

Over the years, Robert Fizo allowed Pellegrini to have access to various positions, including the presidency of the parliament.

Pellegrini himself became prime minister after the fall of Fico’s government in 2018 following the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee.

The case sparked mass protests that forced Robert Fizzo to resign as the journalist investigated links between his Smer-SD party and the Italian mafia.

Although his prerogatives are mostly ceremonial, the Slovak head of state ratifies international treaties, appoints high-ranking judges and is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.