Eight candidates are running to become the next mayor of Bratislava Mayor in the election to be held on November 27, the TASR newswire was told by the city electoral commission clerk Anna Hajduchová on October 4.
The centre-right coalition consisting of the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), Most-Híd and Civic Conservative Party (OKS) have nominated former actress and SDKÚ MP Magda Vášáryová. The mayor of the borough of Petržalka, Milan Ftáčnik, running as an independent but backed by Smer is expected to be her main rival.
Also running are: civic activist and entrepreneur Alojz Hlina; Jozef Bonko, one of the main figures of the 1989 Velvet Revolution and critic of current mayor Andrej Ďurkovský's; and Ján Budaj (backed by a coalition of minor parties). The re-emerged SDĽ (Party of the Democratic Left) has put into the race its chief Marek Blaha (also backed by the Green Party).
Hajduchová declined to reveal the names of the remaining two candidates, adding that they will be presented to the public at Thursday's session of the electoral commission.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.