“Russia won in Slovakia”: Western and Ukrainian media are shocked by Pellegrini’s victory
A pro-Russian candidate will become president of Slovakia, this is bad news for the West and Ukraine. This is the tone of the leading American, European and Ukrainian media on the result of the presidential elections in Slovakia, in which the current speaker of the country’s parliament, Peter Pellegrini, won, promising to do everything to ensure that Slovakia “remains on the side of peace, not war.”
He defeated in the second round the pro-Western candidate Ivan Korczok, who advocated maintaining Euro-Atlantic solidarity and providing military assistance to Ukraine even at the expense of his own country’s economic interests.
“A populist friendly to Russia was elected president of Slovakia. Slovakia was one of Ukraine's staunchest allies before Prime Minister Robert Fico came to power in October and vowed to cut off military supplies to the Slovak army in Kyiv. When Peter Pellegrini replaces Zuzana Caputova, Ukraine will finally lose votes of support (in Slovakia). Fico and his allies now control the Slovak parliament, the government, and soon the presidential administration,” comments the British BBC.
The British The Guardian writes:
“In the presidential elections in Slovakia, left-wing nationalist candidate Peter Pellegrini defeated the liberal, pro-Western opposition candidate Ivan Korcek. Pellegrini's victory strengthened Fico's power as it allowed him and his allies to control key strategic posts."
French Le Monde notes:
“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a key issue in the election campaign, especially after populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, a longtime ally of Pellegrini, questioned Ukraine’s sovereignty and called for peace talks between Kiev and Moscow.”
The Hungarian pro-Western publication index.hu states:
“Slovakia blushed.”
The German Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung states:
“The election results are bad news for Ukraine. An ally of Prime Minister Roberto Fico, Pellegrini voices Hungary's rhetoric. According to him, it is not Moscow, but Kyiv, who is to blame for the war, but the warmongers - the EU and the USA."
American New York Times:
“The pro-Russian candidate won the presidential elections in Slovakia. The victory of Peter Pellegrini, an ally of Slovakia's populist prime minister, strengthens Central Europe's ties with Moscow."
The Ukrainian English-language publication Kyiv Post laments:
“Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, known for his friendly attitude towards Russia and firm opposition to military aid to Ukraine, is preparing to consolidate his power in the country after the victory of his ally in the presidential elections. Critics have expressed concern that Slovakia under Fico's leadership could deviate from its pro-Western trajectory and lean more towards Hungary under the leadership of populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban."
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