Slovak President Zuzanna Čaputová will not run for re-election in 2024 due to the toll her post has had on her and her family.
Čaputová declared in a brief address on Tuesday that she will not run for re-election, despite her expected decision in May.
Before making this decision, I estimated my strength for the following six years. “And, after very honest reflection, I know today that there would not be enough strength for another mandate,” said Čaputová, echoing former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s retirement from politics due to exhaustion.
According to surveys, Čaputová, Slovakia’s most trusted politician, will win the 2024 election.
However, her choice resembles New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arnerd’s “burnout” retirement earlier this year.
Čaputová says she must testify often due to death threats against her and her kids.
The president sued Smer leader Robert Fico for accusing Čaputová of being a “American agent” and working with George Soros.
After Tuesday’s announcement, Smer said “foreign-funded NGOs have already selected a new president”.
Slovakia’s first female president, Čaputová, led four cabinets in four years through political crises including the influenza and the Ukraine crisis.
Most major parties expressed support, some speculating on replacements or introducing candidates.
Former Foreign Minister Ivan Korčok, who served under the failed governments of Igor Matovič and Eduard Heger, is expected to run.
The liberal SaS party nominated Korčok despite his non-membership. He indicated he will remark on rumors when Čaputová announced.
An April survey suggested Korčok would defeat Fico but not Smer defector Peter Pellegrini, whose party Hlas is running third.
