THE EIGHT regional capitals of Slovakia witnessed several changes in their municipal leadership in Saturday’s municipal elections. According to the unofficial results published by Slovakia’s Statistics Office, after votes from 2,166 of the 2,924 towns and villages have been counted, the new mayor of the Slovak capital will be Milan Ftáčnik, who ran as an independent candidate with the support of the opposition Smer party. His challenger Magdaléna Vášáryová, a candidate of the coalition of centre-right ruling parties, finished second, according to preliminary unofficial results reported by daily Sme.
In Košice, Richard Raši, the candidate of the opposition Smer party who also had the support of Most-Híd is leading the race finishing ahead of incumbent mayor František Knapík supported by the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ), Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK), Civic Conservative Party (OKS) and the Greens, based on preliminary unofficial results.
Banská Bystrica went to Peter Gogola, the candidate of right-wing parties, who picked more votes than former Transport Minister Ľubomír Vážny, a candidate of Smer, HZDS and SNS.
The expected winner of the mayoral race in the city of Trenčín is independent candidate Richard Rybníček, former director of the public service Slovak Television, who in the last moment before the election received the support of Smer. He defeated Branislav Celler nominated by SDKÚ and Most-Hid, newswires and Sme daily reported.
The mayor of Žilina in the next four years will be former National Highway Company head, Igor Choma, a candidate of Smer, the Greens, HZDS and HZD, according to the unofficial results.
Pavel Hagyari, an independent candidate and the incumbent mayor of Prešov has picked the highest number of votes according to preliminary results leaving behind Ondrej Matej supported by SDKÚ, SaS, KDH and Most-Híd.
Trnava will have a new mayor after the elections too. KDH candidate Vladimír Butko won the race, preliminary unofficial results suggest.
Nitra went to Jozef Dvonč supported by Smer, KDH, SNS and the Greens defeating the candidate of SDKU, SaS and OKS Jozef Weber.
After votes from 2 166 of the 2 924 towns and villages have been counted, the turnout in regional elections was estimated at 52 percent.
Official results of the local elections are expected to be announced on Sunday, 11:00 am.
