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Slovak presidential election ends in tight race Slovak tycoon Andrej Kiska wins presidency
(35 minutes later)
Voting has ended in the second round of Slovakia's presidential election. Slovak tycoon Andrej Kiska has won the country's presidential election, despite having no previous political experience.
Current Prime Minister Robert Fico is running against businessman Andrej Kiska, who has never before run for political office. Mr Kiska, standing for office for the first time, defeated current Prime Minister Robert Fico in the second round of voting.
Initial exit polls showed Mr Kiska leading his social democrat rival Mr Fisco. Early poll counts suggested Mr Kiska had gained about 60% of the vote.
A victory for Mr Fico would have unified control of the presidency and parliament for the first time since independence in 1993. His victory stopped Mr Fico's social democrats from gaining control of both the presidency and parliament.
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%. Correspondents say the prospect of social-democrat domination appeared to galvanised Mr Fico's opponents.
The prospect of Mr Fico winning control of both parliament and the presidency appears to have galvanised his opponents.
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 ended his campaign by wooing voters with tales of his traditional Catholic upbringing in an attempt to appeal to Slovakia's majority Catholic population.
He portrayed Kiska as a scientologist, a claim the tycoon denies.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. Mr Fico 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.
"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."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.
But he faces an opponent with heavyweight backers. French President Francois Hollande and European Parliament chief Martin Schulz had both backed fellow leftist Mr Fico.
French President Francois Hollande and European Parliament chief Martin Schulz both backed fellow leftist Robert Fico, 49. Mr Kiska capitalised on his image as a newcomer untainted by allegations of corruption that have ravaged Slovakia's right-wing.
Mr Kiska, 51, is capitalising on his image as a newcomer untainted by allegations of corruption that have ravaged Slovakia's right-wing.
With no communist past, he is seen as a skilled businessman. He says he wants to fight corruption and create a more efficient government.With no communist past, he is seen as a skilled businessman. He says he wants to fight corruption and create a more efficient government.
Mr Fico has earned considerable praise for his economic policy. Mr Kiska will be sworn in on 15 June, when leftist incumbent Ivan Gasparovic's second term ends.
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.