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.”