This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26588683
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Slovakia's presidential election goes to second round | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico and independent challenger Andrej Kiska will go forward to the second round of the country's presidential elections. | |
| In Saturday's first round, Mr Fico polled 28.2% with Mr Kiska on 24% on a turnout of 43.4%. | |
| Independent conservative Radoslav Prochazka was third with 20.8%. | |
| As no candidate gained 50% of the votes, a second round run-off will be held in two weeks' time for the mainly ceremonial post. | |
| Mr Fico's left-wing Smer party won the parliamentary election in 2012. | Mr Fico's left-wing Smer party won the parliamentary election in 2012. |
| The 49-year-old had previously served as prime minister from 2006-10, pursuing an anti-austerity agenda. | The 49-year-old had previously served as prime minister from 2006-10, pursuing an anti-austerity agenda. |
| Since the 2012 elections his party has governed alone - the first time since independence that a party secured an absolute majority in the Slovak parliament. | Since the 2012 elections his party has governed alone - the first time since independence that a party secured an absolute majority in the Slovak parliament. |
| Slovakia's president has the power to appoint the prime minister, as well as the main figures in the judiciary. | Slovakia's president has the power to appoint the prime minister, as well as the main figures in the judiciary. |
| However, parliament exercises legislative power. | |
| The BBC's Rob Cameron, in Prague, says that Mr Fico's bid for the presidency is seen as an attempt to make his domination of Slovak politics total. | The BBC's Rob Cameron, in Prague, says that Mr Fico's bid for the presidency is seen as an attempt to make his domination of Slovak politics total. |
| Public anger | Public anger |
| Outgoing President Ivan Gasparovic was elected for the first of two five-year terms in 2004 as voters united against former Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar. | Outgoing President Ivan Gasparovic was elected for the first of two five-year terms in 2004 as voters united against former Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar. |
| Slovakia adopted the euro in 2009 during Mr Fico's previous term as prime minister. | Slovakia adopted the euro in 2009 during Mr Fico's previous term as prime minister. |
| The country has since seen significant economic growth. | The country has since seen significant economic growth. |
| Past governments had been blamed for privatisation scandals and other forms of corruption. | Past governments had been blamed for privatisation scandals and other forms of corruption. |
| Analysts say challenger Andrej Kiska is riding a wave of continuing popular anger at allegations of sleaze and distrust in established parties. | Analysts say challenger Andrej Kiska is riding a wave of continuing popular anger at allegations of sleaze and distrust in established parties. |
| The 51-year-old millionaire says he wants to fight corruption and create a more efficient government. | |
| "Traditional politicians do not deal with the real problems of real people, so I decided to run for president in order to try and change that," he told the Agence France-Presse news agency in the run-up to Saturday's vote. | |