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1st LD Writethru: Slovak President, PM saw general election important

Xinhua, March 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

The ninth general election in Slovakia's history kicked off at 7 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) Saturday, with Slovak President and PM also joining the voting.

Today's general election is most important in a decade, announced Slovak President Andrej Kiska after voting in his hometown Poprade in Eastern Slovakia.

"I think that every single person that cares about Slovakia should go out and vote today. I'm tense and also interested in how it will turn out. This is a tough time for Europe. We'll see if our country is able to pick out priorities," stated Kiska, who expressed his wish that the turnout will exceed 60 percent.

According to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico people casting their votes in the general election aren't only choosing their representatives but also the country's character.

"They have it in their own hands. I'll respect whatever outcome there is," stated Fico after voting in Bratislava, adding that more political parties than in 2012 might make it into parliament this time.

Some 4.4 million eligible voters in Slovakia have the opportunity to choose from 23 political parties and movements with 2,882 candidates to make up the 150-member Parliament. All Slovak citizens who will be at least 18 years old on election day will be eligible to vote. They will vote in 5,992 polling stations in all the 2,926 towns and villages in Slovakia. Official results will be published on Sunday, March 6 in the morning.

The latest general election was held in March 2012, during which the left-wing Smer-SD party won the election with 44.41 percent of the votes. Enditem