Slovakia elects its first woman president, an anti-corruption liberal/progressive lawyer
Zuzana Čaputová, a pro-EU anti-corruption lawyer, has become the first female president-elect of of Slovakia.
Čaputová defeated the conservative candidate Maroš Šefčovič in the run-off presidential election. The liberal candidate received 58.4 percent of the total vote. Both were considered pro-European candidates.
After a vast majority of votes counted, meet #Slovakia's new President: #ZuzanaCaputova, a pro-#EU liberal rallying to @EmmanuelMacron, former NGO activist defending an environmental cause. Defeating conventional wisdom of a conservative Slovakia & #Orban-dominated #VisegradGroup pic.twitter.com/TGHGPpRo0w
— Pavol Szalai (@pavolszalai) March 30, 2019
#Caputova arriving on stage at her election headquarters in Bratislava’s old market hall. First indications to be released when polls close at 2200 CET. #Slovakia pic.twitter.com/YOLEMfvw0W
— Rob Cameron (@BBCRobC) March 30, 2019
Anti-corruption has emerged as a core issue in Slovakia, Romania, and in many Balkan countries. Slovakia is the smallest country in the Visegrád Group, a cultural and political alliance of four Central European states.
#Breaking: Zuzana Caputova, once called an “unknown girl” by the speaker of the National Council,wins the presidency.
Anti-corruption lawyer & the unwaveringly liberal Caputova is an antidote to Central Europe’s right-wing alpha males is Slovakia’s first female president. #SDGs pic.twitter.com/vAciloyTWa— Parthiban Shanmugam (@hollywoodcurry) March 30, 2019
The election of Caputova as president is considered by more than a few observers as a victory of liberal values in a Europe under the so-called threat of populism.
Paramount night for #Slovakia and Europe with the election of @ZuzanaCaputova as President. A victory of liberal values in a Europe under the populism threat. 🇸🇰🇪🇺💙 @ALDEParty @ALDEgroup pic.twitter.com/43Ucb2o2dz
— Alexandre Krauss (@AlexandreKrausz) March 30, 2019
"I am glad that today we see that someone can be succesful with her own ideas, without using an agressive language and without appealing to populism," said #Zuzana #Čaputová in her victory speech #Slovakia pic.twitter.com/aWSDr4TuJt
— Radio Slovakia Int. (@RSI_English) March 30, 2019
Congratulations, Zuzana #Čaputová, Liberal President for Slovakia! The Slovak people send a signal of hope to Europe with your election: humanism, decency, solidarity & courage. A fresh wind into liberal & centrist sails, let us shape Europe together! @ALDEgroup @progresivne_sk pic.twitter.com/XG9gV8ZvU8
— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) March 30, 2019
Born in the capital of Bratislava, the 45-year-old married Čaputová will not only be the first woman to hold Slovakia’s presidency, but will also be the youngest president in the country’s history.
Slovakia is a country of a little over five million people.