Slovakia’s president says she is not going to search re-election in subsequent 12 months’s presidential vote
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Slovakia’s first feminine president mentioned Tuesday that she will not search reelection in subsequent 12 months’s presidential vote.
President Zuzana Čaputová mentioned the announcement was one of many “hardest” she has made. She mentioned that after a critical evaluation of her choices, she got here to the conclusion that she wouldn’t have sufficient power left for one more five-year time period.
“Everyone knows that the final 4 years have been linked to crises,” Čaputová mentioned, citing the coronavirus pandemic, Russia’s warfare in Ukraine, the power disaster and hovering inflation.
She mentioned these have been essentially the most troublesome years of her life.
“I really feel sorry if I disappoint those that anticipated me to run once more,” she mentioned. “The destiny of Slovakia shouldn’t be within the arms of 1 particular person.”
Čaputová has been a transparent pro-Western voice in Slovak politics and a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its battle in opposition to Russia’s full-scale invasion.
She visited Ukraine twice since Russia launched the warfare in February 2022.
Čaputová is presently the preferred amongst Slovakia’s politicians, in line with opinion polls. She is a liberal environmental activist and a lawyer by career was elected to the largely ceremonial put up in 2019. She turned Slovakia’s fifth president because the nation gained independence after the break up of Czechoslovakia in 1993.
She had little expertise in politics however attracted voters who have been appalled by corruption and mainstream politics. Her election to the largely ceremonial put up defied a wave of positive factors for far-right populists throughout Europe.
A divorced mom of two, Čaputová has been in favor of homosexual rights and opposed makes an attempt to ban abortion within the conservative Roman Catholic nation.
Slovakia is heading for an early election on Sept. 30 and is presently led by a caretaker authorities of technocrats.
The federal government led by Prime Minister Ludovit Odor has adopted the stance of the earlier Cupboard of Prime Minister Eduard Heger in supporting Ukraine. However some present opposition leaders, together with former populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, oppose navy help for Ukraine and European Union sanctions in opposition to Russia.
Fico and his Smer-Social Democracy leftist get together are the favorites to win the upcoming election, in line with current polls.
Čaputová has come underneath assault from Fico, a significant pro-Russia and anti-American voice within the nation who has focused her help for Ukraine and accused her of being a U.S. agent who consults the steps she takes with the U.S. Embassy in Bratislava.