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Bloomberg
Slovak anti-corruption parties — propelled by lingering anger at the killing of an investigative reporter two years ago — scored an unexpectedly large majority in elections.
Four groups, led by Ordinary People, garnered 45% of
votes, which would represent 95 mandates in the 150-seat parliament, results from nearly all election districts showed.
They’ve vowed to join forces to dislodge the ruling Smer party, which has been tainted by graft accusations and came second with 18%.
“I’m very happy Slovakia has woken up,†Igor Matovic, Ordinary People’s 46-year-old leader and the favourite to become prime minister, told supporters after the vote.
The result leaves Slovakia rooted in Europe’s mainstream — heading off the risk it could deviate along the rebellious paths followed by neighboring Hungary and Poland.
It comes less than a year after voters in the European Union (EU) and euro-region
member elected their first woman president in a rebuke to nationalist and euroskeptic forces.