2019 Slovak presidential election

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Presidential elections were held in Slovakia in March 2019. The sitting president, Andrej Kiska, did not run for a second term. Fifteen candidates competed in the first round on 16 March, and two of them withdrew before voting but remained on the ballot papers.

The race was led by Zuzana Čaputová of the Progressive Slovakia party and Maroš Šefčovič, an independent supported by SMER–SD. In the first round, Čaputová received about 40.6% of the vote and Šefčovič about 18.7%, with no one reaching 50% to avoid a runoff. A runoff between the top two candidates was held on 30 March.

Voter turnout was 48.74% in the first round and 41.80% in the second round. In the runoff, Čaputová won with 58.41% of the vote to Šefčovič’s 41.59%, becoming Slovakia’s first female president and its youngest-ever president when she took office on 15 June 2019.

Background: The president is elected for a five-year term by direct popular vote and can serve up to two terms. The president has powers such as nominating the prime minister, vetoing laws (with some exceptions), and appointing judges. To run, a candidate must gather 15,000 signatures or receive support from 15 MPs, be at least 40 years old, resign from conflicting offices, and not exceed two terms.

Campaign notes: Šefčovič opposed expanding LGBT rights (such as civil partnerships or same-sex adoption) and criticized Čaputová’s stance on these issues and migration policies. Čaputová supported LGBT rights. Another candidate, Štefan Harabin, campaigned for traditional Christian values and spoke against migration and NATO. Observers noted Harabin had some online support from pro-Kremlin sources.