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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Lili Bayer

Slovakia: pro-western diplomat contests Russia-friendly politician for presidency

Peter Pellegrini (right) and Ivan Korčok (left) appear  on television for a presidential debate.
Peter Pellegrini (right) and Ivan Korčok appearing on the Slovak television channel RTVS for a presidential debate on Wednesday. Photograph: Tomas Benedikovic/AFP/Getty

A pro-western diplomat and a politician accused of promoting Russia-friendly talking points will face off in a nailbiting presidential runoff in Slovakia on Saturday, amid fears the country is sliding away from the west.

Ivan Korčok, a former foreign minister, and Peter Pellegrini, the speaker of parliament who is backed by Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, are neck-to-neck in the polls.

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