The Slovak electorate has confirmed in office the majority of its elected political representatives at the regional and municipal levels in a ‘super election’ whose results were announced on Sunday.
In the Bratislava region, regional president Juraj Droba remains in office with the support of the liberal parties, as does the mayor of the capital, Matú Vallo. Conservative candidates have won in many other regions.
Far-right representatives failed to make the cut in most regions, after their success in previous elections caused concern at home and abroad.
Independents partly won direct elections to appoint a mayor and the social democratic party Hlas-SD has also won several seats.
About 4.4 million citizens and foreigners permanently residing in the country were called on Saturday to elect the parliaments and presidents of the eight regions. In addition, the councils of the nearly 3,000 cities, towns and municipalities, as well as mayors and district mayors, were again elected.
At the same time, several local referendums were held, for example in the town of Sliac, where a German military unit with the Patriot missile defense system is currently stationed at the military airport.
A citizens’ initiative had demanded a referendum with thousands of signatures to prevent the establishment of a US air base at the airport.
After the four-party government that had ruled nationally since 2020 fell apart in early September, the elections have been seen as a mood test for the residual conservative-populist coalition that rules as a minority cabinet.