Slovak Parliament Speaker Peter Pellegrini, a close ally of populist Prime Minister Roberto Fico, announced on Friday that he will run for president.
Pellegrini, 48, is seen as the favorite in the race for the largely ceremonial post, according to opinion polls. Zuzana Čaputova, the country's first female president, has decided not to seek re-election.
The first round of voting is scheduled for March 23rd.
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Pellegrini, who supports a strong role for the state in society, is the leader of the left-wing party Fras (Voice), which finished third in the September 30 parliamentary elections. His party formed a ruling coalition with Fico's leftist Smer (Direction) party and the ultranationalist Slovak People's Party.
Pellegrini, Fico's former deputy at Smer, was forced to resign following massive anti-government street protests in 2018 over the killing of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiance. He became Prime Minister in 2018.
Mr Pellegrini parted ways with Mr Fico after the scandal-plagued Mr Sumer lost the last election in 2020.
Slovakia's then Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini speaks at the National Museum in Prague, Czech Republic, on November 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
He previously served as Deputy Prime Minister (2016-18) and Minister of Education (2014) in Fico's government, and was President of the Slovak Parliament, also known as the National Council, from 2014-16.
Former Foreign Minister Ivan Kolchok, a pro-Western career diplomat, is expected to be Mr Pellegrini's main rival in the presidential election.
Other notable candidates include Jan Kubis, another former foreign minister. Andrej Danko, leader of the Slovak People's Party. and far-right politician Marian Kotleba.
Čaputova is a decidedly pro-Western voice in Slovak politics and has been a strong supporter of Ukraine in its fight against full-scale Russian aggression.
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But Mr. Pellegrini's party is part of Mr. Fico's coalition government, which cut off military aid to Ukraine.
