‘It will likely be shut’: Candidates make final push
In what is predicted to be a knife-edge vote, candidates have been urging Slovaks to return out to vote – and convey their associates.
“If you happen to haven’t voted in the present day, please be part of – by prepare, automotive, on foot, as wanted,” Progressive Slovakia chief Michal Šimečka wrote on Fb earlier this night. “It will likely be shut and each single vote can resolve,” he added.
“Mates, come forged your vote,” Hlas celebration chief and former prime minister Peter Pellegrini stated on social media. “Others have already used their alternative, however you’ll be able to resolve,” he stated.
Key occasions
Zelenskiy sends a message
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy despatched a message to Slovaks on election day. With out mentioning the race, he thanked Slovakia for “standing with Ukraine.”
Robert Fico’s opposition to navy support for Ukraine and criticism of sanctions raised fears {that a} new Slovak authorities might be part of Hungary as a extra pro-Russian voice inside the EU and NATO.
Yesterday, I welcomed Slovak Protection Minister Martin Sklenár in Kyiv.
We mentioned frontline developments, precedence protection wants, and cooperation on humanitarian mine clearance.
I thank Slovakia for standing with Ukraine.
🇺🇦🇸🇰 pic.twitter.com/Fq9a5vlTFU
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 30, 2023
Hungarian minister weighs in
Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s overseas minister and a detailed ally of Viktor Orbán, urged Hungarian audio system in Slovakia to vote for the Szövetség-Aliancia (Alliance) celebration representing ethnic Hungarians.
“Now could be the time! Hungarians within the parliament!” he wrote in a social media submit in the present day endorsing Krisztián Forró, the celebration’s lead candidate.
Szijjártó additionally hung out in Slovakia earlier within the week.
‘It will likely be shut’: Candidates make final push
In what is predicted to be a knife-edge vote, candidates have been urging Slovaks to return out to vote – and convey their associates.
“If you happen to haven’t voted in the present day, please be part of – by prepare, automotive, on foot, as wanted,” Progressive Slovakia chief Michal Šimečka wrote on Fb earlier this night. “It will likely be shut and each single vote can resolve,” he added.
“Mates, come forged your vote,” Hlas celebration chief and former prime minister Peter Pellegrini stated on social media. “Others have already used their alternative, however you’ll be able to resolve,” he stated.
Atone for the Guardian’s Slovakia protection
Polls open in knife-edge vote with Ukraine excessive on agenda by Jon Henley
‘Roma solely’: the college caught up in a Slovakian nationwide scandal by Daniel Boffey
‘An enormous storm’: polarised Slovakia on a knife edge forward of elections by Jason Burke
Slovakian elections Q&A: nation votes after 4 PMs in 5 years by Jon Henley
Exit polls anticipated at 10:45pm CET
Whereas first exit polls had been anticipated shortly after 10pm CET, a moratorium on publishing outcomes has been prolonged till 10:45pm native time because of the dying of a voter in a polling station in Považská Bystrica.
Nonetheless, tv station Markíza continues to be anticipated to publish numbers at 10pm – however with out indicating celebration names.
A file 58,779 individuals voted by mail from overseas in Slovakia’s election, in accordance to the nation’s inside ministry.
23,486 voted from the Czech Republic, 6,238 from the UK and 5,546 from Germany.
Welcome to the Slovakia election weblog
Welcome to a particular version of our Europe reside weblog.
This night we will probably be taking a look at Slovakia’s snap election, which has attracted consideration far past the nation’s borders.
All eyes are on 59-year-old Robert Fico, a populist former three-time prime minister who has pledged to cease navy support to Ukraine, criticised sanctions concentrating on Russia and campaigned in opposition to LGBTQ+ rights.
Fico’s Smer celebration is neck-to-neck within the polls with Progressive Slovakia, a liberal celebration led by 39-year-old European parliament vice-president Michal Šimečka.
However the final end result of the election could also be determined by a bunch of smaller events which are anticipated to additionally enter parliament.
Hlas, led by former prime minister and ex-Smer member Peter Pellegrini, has been coming in third in opinion polls and will change into a kingmaker.
Are you following Slovakia’s election? We wish to hear from you. Ship feedback to lili.bayer@theguardian.com.
