Newly elected president: Slovakia to continue to be strong member of EU, NATO

Slovak nationalist-left government candidate Peter Pellegrini won the country's presidential election on April 6, cementing the grip of pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Fico over the country.

Pellegrini had 53.26 per cent of the vote, versus 46.73 per cent for pro-Western opposition candidate Ivan Korcok, results from 99.66 per cent of voting districts showed, according to Reuters.

Pellegrini, 48, said his victory meant the government would have support in its aims, and not face an "opposition, opportunistic power centre" in reference to outgoing liberal president Zuzana Caputova.

"I will be a president who will support the government in its efforts for improving people's lives," Pellegrini said at his campaign headquarters.

"I will do everything for Slovakia to forever remain on the side of peace and not the side of war."

"This is not about the future direction of foreign policy. I also guarantee, like the other candidate, that we will continue to be a strong member of the EU and NATO," he said after voting in Rovinka on the outskirts of the capital.