The second and decisive round of the presidential elections in Slovakia will take place as expected between Ivan Korcok and Peter Pellegrini. Korcok received the largest number of votes in the first round: 42 percent. Pellegrini follows closely behind with 37 percent.

Korcok, a diplomat and former foreign minister, is considered a progressive. He is pro-European and pro-Ukraine. His rival, Pellegrini, is the current speaker of Parliament and enjoys the support of the populist party of current Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Fico became prime minister after his party, “Samir,” won in the parliamentary elections that took place last year. He is pro-Russian and has recently rapidly implemented controversial legal reforms, which, according to his opponents, seriously undermine the rule of law. Under his leadership, arms shipments to Ukraine stopped. He also wants to reform the public broadcaster, which, according to critics, means it risks becoming a mouthpiece for his party.

The current president is Zuzana Caputova. She is still popular but gives way at her request because she is tired of the threats against her. Caputova, like Korcok, is progressive, including her positions on abortion and gay rights. She does not want to continue because of the huge impact the threats have had on her family.

The president’s role in Slovakia is partly ceremonial, but he can also halt or at least delay the government’s plans. For example, Caputova referred the abolition of the post of special anti-corruption prosecutor to the Constitutional Court, which rejected the plans as unconstitutional. It also prevented the appointment of a climate change denier as climate minister.

The second round of elections will be held on April 6.