Ivan Korczok and Peter Pellegrini will face each other in the second round of Slovakia’s presidential election after confirming predictions that had them as favorites in Saturday’s first round.

With 90% of the votes counted, the former Foreign Minister Ivan Kortsok secures 40.3% against 38.4% of the Speaker of the Parliament and former Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini.

The second round of the presidential election will be held on April 6.

The result of the ballot box was not a surprise, since in the opinion polls the 49-year-old Pellegrini and the 59-year-old Korczok were leading, with a small difference between them.

The electorate appears divided over the war in neighboring Ukraine.

Pellegrini, 49, comes from the pro-Russian government camp led by Prime Minister Robert Fitzou, who has challenged Ukraine’s sovereignty.

The 59-year-old Korchok, who is backed by the opposition, has stood firmly on Ukraine’s side, as has outgoing president Zuzana Tsaputova, who chose not to seek a second term.

Although he has a mostly ceremonial role, Slovakia’s president ratifies international treaties, appoints judges and heads the country’s armed forces. The head of state, which has a population of 5.4 million and is a member of the European Union and NATO, has veto power over bills passed by parliament.