Ivan Korčok announced his move to the leading opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party, according to Euractiv.
The former Slovak foreign minister, who led Slovakia’s presidential campaign, took several months after April’s presidential election to consider his next steps. He joined PS as foreign policy supervisor, citing “shared values and common goals.”
I want to contribute to creating an alternative in the upcoming parliamentary elections that will address the country’s most pressing issue – our decline and lagging progress – through open democratic competition. Slovakia is a success story. Today’s situation does not determine our future. However, political change is essential for progress.
The former foreign minister said that he had received several offers to join other parties, but chose the PS as he believed that the only way to ensure political change in Slovakia was to support an organisation capable of opposing Prime Minister Robert Fico’s ruling Smer-SD.
Meanwhile, PS chairman Michal Šimečka welcomed the new party member. He expressed his desire to lead the opposition and govern in order to defeat Fico in the elections and form a new government.
I’m pleased that with Ivan Korčok joining PS, we are one step closer to achieving our common goal. Ivan, I look forward to all we’ll accomplish together for Slovakia. Welcome to PS.
Korčok lost Slovakia’s bitterly contested presidential election earlier this year by a narrow margin, securing 47% against 53% of the vote. Voter turnout was 61%.
According to the latest poll, Korčok remains in the top three most trusted politicians in Slovakia. The list is topped by Pellegrini, who is trusted by 46% of respondents, followed by former president Zuzana Čaputová with 45% and Korčok with 35%.
