Slovakia elect new president amid deep divisions over Ukraine war

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00:00 A second round of voting for these Slovakians.

00:04 After neither of the presidential candidates reached the threshold needed to win last month's

00:08 vote, residents are heading to the polls to cast their ballots once again.

00:12 "I think it's important to express your values now.

00:20 By voting and who I vote for, I'm expressing a stance on those values."

00:26 "I'm an older generation, so democracy for me means being able to vote for someone, not

00:33 like it was before 1989."

00:36 Going head to head are Ivan Korchok, a pro-Western diplomat and former foreign minister, and

00:41 parliament speaker Peter Pellegrini, who is backed by the country's prime minister, Robert

00:46 Fidzo.

00:47 The war in Ukraine has become a key issue in the campaign after Fidzo questioned Ukraine's

00:52 sovereignty and has pursued a foreign policy which critics say is too friendly to Russia.

00:58 Although the office is mainly ceremonial, some voters view the election as crucial and

01:03 say the winner could serve as a check on Fidzo.

01:05 "Well, if Korchok wins, I believe it will be good for the country, you know, the balance.

01:11 Pellegrini, he's a Fidzo guy, so he will do anything what Fidzo asks him to do, and that

01:18 will be bad in general for the country, for the democracy and for the future."

01:24 The prime minister, meanwhile, has described Pellegrini as a quote "moderate" candidate

01:29 who recognises the value of peace.

01:32 With the two candidates neck and neck in the latest pre-election poll, it's set to be a

01:36 tight race.

01:37 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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