The presidential elections in Slovakia are to take place on March 15. This will be the fourth time that Slovak citizens will choose their president via a secret ballot in a direct election. It is a two-round voting system. The winner might emerge also in the 1st round if there is a candidate whom receives more than 50% of legitimate votes; otherwise, in two weeks’ time the 2nd round will take place, where the two most successful candidates from the 1st round meet. The one who gets the most votes in this round will reside in the Presidential palace for the next five years. There are 14 presidential candidates and we will introduce all of them all in alphabetical order.
Fischer Viliam
Mr Fischer is a physician and professor of cardiac surgery, pioneering heart transplants in Slovakia. Sixteen years ago in March 1998 he performed the country’s first successful heart transplant. He is currently the head of the Department of Cardiac Surgery and Vascular Diseases and is dedicated to the training of future cardiac surgeons. He is the author of 125 original scientific works, and was awarded the prize of Foremost Health Professionals of the World in 2008 by the International Biographical Centre in Cambridge (UK). Locally he has received numerous awards for his activities in cardiac surgery. In a reader's poll in the magazine Slovenka in 1996 he was declared Man of the Year. This 76 year old Bratislavian entered the presidential campaign as an independent candidate. Politically, he is unattached.
Hrušovský Pavol
Mr Hrušovský is a lawyer who entered high politics in 1990. As a Member of the House of the people in the Federal Assembly of Czechoslovakia, he undertook various parliamentary functions and held the post of Chairman of the National Council of the Slovak Republic. He is currently a member of the Committee on Human Rights and National Minorities and a member of the permanent delegation in the European Parliament Inter-Parliamentary Union. Although one of the founding members of the Christian Democratic Movement, his candidacy for the presidential election platform is being announced on behalf of the People’s Platform, comprised of the parties Most-Hid, the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), and the Christian Democrats (KDH). The 62 year old candidate Pavol Hrušovský comes from the southern region of Slovakia. His candidacy is being supported in a letter from leading Christian Democrat politicians and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
