Liberal lawyer Zuzana Caputova becomes Slovakia’s first female president
Caputova is a relative political newcomer known for taking part in antigovernment protests in 2018 after the shootings of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee
Bratislava — The election of Zuzana Caputova as Slovakia’s first female president was hailed on Sunday as a vote for change, with the anti-graft activist expected to provide a check on a government tarnished after last year’s murder of a journalist. The environmental lawyer’s clear victory on Saturday over the ruling party’s candidate was a blow to the populist-left Smer-SD — the largest grouping in parliament — and could spell trouble for them in the EU elections and 2020’s general vote. She is a relative political newcomer known for taking part in mass antigovernment protests in 2018 after the shootings of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee. The uproar toppled the then-premier. Caputova won 58.4% of the vote according to a final tally of results released Sunday, compared with 41.6% for her ruling party rival, EU energy commissioner Maros Sefcovic. “A candidate embodying democratic forces has won, and Sefcovic, who was a symbol of continuity, has lost,” analyst Gri...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.