The speaker of Slovakia's Parliament, Peter Pellegrini, a close ally of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, announced on Friday he will run for president. Pellegrini, 48, is considered a favorite in the race for the largely ceremonial post, according to public polls. Zuzana Čaputová, the country’s first female president, decided not to seek reelection.
Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová, commenting on the Russian large-scale missile attack on 2 January, has emphasised the importance of helping Ukraine to defend itself against Russian aggression.