The presidential elections in Slovakia are to take place on 15 March. 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 that receives more than 50% of legitimate votes; otherwise, two weeks’ after the 1st round, a 2nd round will take place, where the two most successful candidates will 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 here at RSI we introduce all of them, in alphabetical order.
Milan Melník
Is a world renowned scientist, with an entry in the world science encyclopedia. This 76 year old professor is a founder of bioorganic chemistry in the former Czechoslovakia. In this scientific field he belongs to the most cited Slovak authors – he wrote many scientific publications, which are being included in various scientific conference almanacs and symposiums, at home and abroad. He has mentored a number of graduates and post-graduates in the study of inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry; he has also given lectures at 72 universities all over the world.
Milan Melník has never been a member of any political party. He has taken part in the presidential elections once before, though being unsuccessful. In the 2014 presidential election he is a civil candidate supported by various non-governmental associations.
Helena Mezenská
As a presidential candidate has two “firsts”: she is the only woman on the candidate list and she is also the youngest candidate, being only 41 years old. She has a university degree in pedagogy and she has worked as a mediator, manager, journalist, as well as a civil activist and in the communal sphere. Since 2004 she has been an independent member of a city parliament at the same time a member of a non-governmental organization. She has been member of the National parliament as a party nominee. Just a few months ago, Helena Mezenská was not publically very well known. In the Slovak parliament she is member of the Committee for European Affairs and the Committee for Economy. Since June 2014 she is also an alternate member of the Permanent Representatives of Slovakia to the Council of Europe. Helena Mezenská is a civil candidate running for the post of the Slovak president.
