(Reuters) - Slovaks vote in a presidential election on Saturday that could strengthen Prime Minister Robert Fico's grip on power as he seeks more control over public media, softer anti-corruption laws and a dissenting voice to EU support for Ukraine.
Polls are open in the first round of voting from 7:00 a.m. (0600 GMT) until 10:00 p.m. (2100 GMT).
A run-off between the top two candidates is due on April 6 if no one wins a majority this weekend.
Pellegrini, a former prime minister and member of Fico's leftist, ruling SMER party and now the head of junior coalition partner HLAS, is hoping to duplicate that success.
Caputova won the last presidential election in 2019, riding an anti-corruption wave aimed at Fico's party, which was in power then.
Persons:
Robert Fico's, Fico's, Peter Pellegrini, Zuzana Caputova, Fico, Pellegrini, HLAS, Ivan Korcok, Caputova, Korcok, Jason Hovet, Angus MacSwan
Organizations:
Reuters, Ukraine, EU, Constitutional, RTVS
Locations:
Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, Kyiv, Prague