Independent Political Newcomer Wins Slovakia's Presidential Elections

51-year-old Kiska, a successful businessman, philanthropist and political newcomer, has vowed to fight to restore the people's trust in the office of president. Photo by BGNES

Independent candidate Andrej Kiska won the presidential elections in Slovakia.

Kiska beat current Prime Minister Robert Fico in the second round of voting by 59.4% to 40.6%, according to reports of the local statistics office. The turnout was 50.5%, according  to Bloomberg.

A victory for Fico would have given his party control of both the presidency and parliament as the social-democratic Smer has a majority of 83 deputies in the country's 150-seat parliament.

Fico, who is serving a second term as Prime Minister, admitted defeat and congratulated his opponent.

51-year-old Kiska, a successful businessman, philanthropist and political newcomer, has vowed to fight to restore the people's trust in the office of president. He will be Slovakia's first president since independence in 1993 without a past in the Communist party.

Kiska is to be sworn in on June 15, when leftist incumbent Ivan Gasparovic's second term ends.

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