A CLOSE ally of left-wing Prime Minister Robert Fico won Slovakia’s presidential election at the weekend, beating a pro-Western career diplomat.

Parliamentary speaker Peter Pellegrini received 53.26 per cent of the vote in Saturday’s run-off election, while 46.73 per cent backed former foreign minister Ivan Korcok.

“I can promise I will be a president of all Slovak citizens,” Mr Pellegrini said. “I can promise I'll be always by the side of Slovakia.”

His defeated rival is a former ambassador to the United States and Germany who also served as the country’s envoy to Nato and the European Union. Mr Korcok strongly supports Slovakia’s membership of those organisations.

Mr Pellegrini will replace Zuzana Caputova, the country’s first female head of state, who did not seek a second term in the largely ceremonial post. She has been a strong backer of neighbouring Ukraine in its war against the Russian invasion.

The election result cements Mr Fico’s grip on power by giving him and his allies control of major strategic posts.

The Slovak president picks the prime minister after parliamentary elections, swears in the new government and appoints constitutional court judges. The head of state can also veto laws, although parliament can override the veto with a simple majority and challenge them at the constitutional court.

Mr Fico’s left-wing Direction — Social Democracy party won September’s parliamentary elections on a pro-Russian and anti-US platform.

Mr Pellegrini, who favours a strong role for the state, heads the left-wing Voice party, which finished third in the September election and joined a coalition government with Direction and the ultranationalist Slovak National Party.

The new government immediately halted arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Thousands of people have repeatedly taken to the streets across Slovakia recently in protest at Mr Fico’s policies, including plans to amend the penal code and take control of the public media.