Bratislava mayoral candidate Dana Čahojová (independent) is withdrawing from this year's mayoral election race for the capital's top post.
She announced her decision in a video on social media on Tuesday, explaining that she wants to prevent the vote from being fragmented. She also urged voters not to ignore the election and to vote carefully, thoughtfully and prudently.
"My sole aim was to bring real change to Bratislava and give people hope and an alternative. Reality, however, also confronts us with decisions reminiscent of Sophie's choice. I realise that if I continued to the end, I would risk splitting the votes of people who, like me, very much want change," Čahojová declared.
She also called on residents not to ignore the municipal election, while urging them to vote with great care. Every candidate is important, she emphasised. Čahojová recommended ignoring "grandiose marketing" and not get swayed by advertised expertise either, as "liars or self-seekers" may also be lurking among experts. Above all, she said, voters should look for honest people.
Those who have announced their candidacies for Bratislava mayor as independents are Lubomir Geci, Miroslav Heredos and Transport Minister Jozef Raz. Zuzana Subova, the chair of the Pirate Party, has also announced her candidacy, as have incumbent two-term Bratislava Mayor Matus Vallo (Team Bratislava, PS, SaS and Democrats) and Bratislava city and regional councillor Martin Winkler (Danube party).
The combined municipal and regional elections will take place on October 24, with voters choosing representatives in almost 3,000 municipalities, cities and city districts. No voting certificates can be issued for these elections, so voters can only cast their ballots at their place of permanent residence. Foreign citizens with permanent residence in Slovakia are also eligible to vote in municipal elections.
Source: TASR
