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Slovaks vote in second round of presidential poll Slovak presidential election ends in tight race
(about 14 hours later)
Voting is under way in Slovakia for a new president in a tight run-off between Prime Minister Robert Fico and independent challenger Andrej Kiska. Voting has ended in the second round of Slovakia's presidential election.
Polling stations opened at 06:00 GMT and are due to close at 21:00 GMT. Current Prime Minister Robert Fico is running against businessman Andrej Kiska, who has never before run for political office.
In the first round, Mr Fico captured 28.2% of the vote, finishing narrowly ahead of Mr Kiska, who scored 24%. Initial exit polls showed Mr Kiska leading his social democrat rival Mr Fisco.
If Mr Fico wins, his social-democratic Smer party, which won legislative polls in 2012, will have full control of both parliament and the presidency. A victory for Mr Fico would have unified control of the presidency and parliament for the first time since independence in 1993.
The results of the vote are expected within hours after the polls close. In the first round of voting on 15 March, Social Democrat Mr Fico captured 28% of the votes, finishing narrowly ahead of centrist Mr Kiska, who captured 24%.
Analysts predict a close contest between PM Robert Fico and philanthropist and political newcomer Mr Kiska. The prospect of Mr Fico winning control of both parliament and the presidency appears to have galvanised his opponents.
Domination Mr Fico ended his campaign by wooing voters with tales of his traditional Catholic upbringing in an attempt to appeal to Slovakia's majority Catholic population.
Mr Fico, 49, has been in office since the 2012 elections - which saw a party securing an absolute majority in the Slovak parliament for the first time since independence in 1993. He portrayed Kiska as a scientologist, a claim the tycoon denies.
Mr Fico, 49, has been in office since the 2012 elections, which saw a party securing an absolute majority in the Slovak parliament for the first time since independence.
The current election is being seen as a referendum on the prime minister's tenure, says the BBC's Rob Cameron in Prague.The current election is being seen as a referendum on the prime minister's tenure, says the BBC's Rob Cameron in Prague.
Prime Minister Fico's bid for absolute domination of Slovak politics may be a bid too far, our correspondent adds, with his first round performance less than convincing. "It's a new feeling to be voting for myself," said Mr Kiska, who has never who never previously run for office, as he cast his ballot in his provincial hometown of Poprad, in northern Slovakia.
Businessman and philanthropist Andrej Kiska emerged just four points behind Mr Fico, benefiting from anti-Fico sentiment among right-wing voters. But he faces an opponent with heavyweight backers.
The 51-year-old millionaire says he wants to fight corruption and create a more efficient government. French President Francois Hollande and European Parliament chief Martin Schulz both backed fellow leftist Robert Fico, 49.
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. Mr Kiska, 51, is capitalising on his image as a newcomer untainted by allegations of corruption that have ravaged Slovakia's right-wing.
Mr Fico has earned considerable political capital for his economic policy. With no communist past, he is seen as a skilled businessman. He says he wants to fight corruption and create a more efficient government.
During a previous term as prime minister in 2006-2010, Slovakia adopted the euro and the country saw significant economic growth. Mr Fico has earned considerable praise for his economic policy.
The economy is expected to grow 2.3% this year and during a previous term as prime minister in 2006-2010, Slovakia adopted the euro.
The next president will be sworn in on 15 June, when leftist incumbent Ivan Gasparovic's second term ends.