Presidential Election, 23 March and 6 April 2024

Slovakia is a parliamentary republic. The prime minister heads the government and the largely ceremonial president oversees foreign policy, holding a technical power of veto over new legislation, and making some official appointments (Freedom House 2024). The president is elected by an absolute majority popular vote, either in the first round of a second if necessary (IFES 2024). The electoral management body in Slovakia is the Ministry of Interior. The ministry administers presidential, parliamentary—National Council—and local elections (Ministry of Interior n.d.).

OSCE observers conducted a prior needs assessment report in January 2024, expressing confidence in the organization of the elections. Concerns were however raised regarding disinformation from domestic and foreign actors, as well as the private media struggling to acquire information from government officials (OSCE 2024).

The electoral period was marked by aggressive political rhetoric on social media. Several disinformation campaigns included pro-Russian narratives. Two weeks before election day, pro-Russian media outlets painted presidential candidate and former Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Ivan Korčok as a servant of the US who would reinstate conscription and send Slovak soldiers to war in Ukraine (which power the Slovak president does not have) (Hockenos 2024; Vančo 2024). 

None of the candidates were women, following the trend of women being underrepresented in Slovakian politics (OSCE 2024). Previous president Zuzana Čaputova, an anti-corruption lawyer without a parliamentary party machinery behind her, had been the first woman to hold the post (BBC 2019). Political commentator and journalist Zuzana Kovačič Hanzelová was subjected to a misogynistic smear campaign in the run-up to the election, resulting in her announcing a temporary withdrawal from moderating political debates following verbal attacks and a physical assault. Similarly, Jana Krescanko Dibáková, a well-established political commentator, left TV JOJ after harassment and a boycott by politicians (OSCE 2024).

Citizens headed to the polls on 23 March 2024 and again on 6 April 2024, no majority outcome having been achieved. Slovakia allows mobile ballot boxes for those unable to leave their home, particularly those who are restricted due to health reasons. These voters need to notify the electoral body within their district by three days before the election, and were then able to place their vote at home in front of a polling committee (Slovakia 1999: 21(7)).

The voter turnout was at 51.92 per cent in the first round and 61.14 per cent in the second round (Statistical Office 2024 ;International IDEA n.d.) – a large increase compared to the previous presidential election in 2019: 48.74 percent and 41.8 per cent, respectively (Statistical Office 2021; International IDEA n.d.). In the second round, Peter Pellegrini supported by Prime Minister Robert Fico—an opponent of military aid to Ukraine—gained 53.12 per cent of the vote against pro-Western candidate Ivan Korčoks on 46.87 per cent (Stoklasa and Lopatka 2024; Statistical Office 2024). 

Tensions continued in the post-electoral period.  A murder attempt on Prime Minister Fico took place about a month later and initial investigations showed that there was a ‘clear political motivation’ behind it (Psaropoulos 2024). Fico himself blamed the assassination bid on aggressive campaigning, claiming the assailant ‘was an activist of the Slovak opposition … a messenger of evil and political hatred that the politically unsuccessful and frustrated opposition has fanned to unmanageable proportions’ (Starcevic 2024).