Slovak Regional Elections: Right-wing extremist wins regional vote

[Tender Branson]

Bratislava (dpa) - In an surprise outcome Saturday, a right-wing extremist was elected president of one of Slovakia‘s self-governing regions, election officials said.

Marian Kotleba, known for his agitation against the Roma minority as well as for appearing in uniforms modeled upon fascist styles, defeated the Social Democrat incumbent in the Banka Bystrica region. The vote count was 55.53 per cent to 44.46 per cent.

Kotleba has been taken into police custody on a number of occasions and charged for stirring racial unrest and endangering democracy.

http://en.europeonline-magazine.eu/shock-in-slovakia-right-wing-extremist-wins-regional-vote_306498.html

[Tender Branson]

Here are the full results of the runoffs:



Mostly Social Democratic wins, while Bratislava remained conservative.

[YL]

A bit more here:
http://spectator.sme.sk/articles/view/52136/10/vuc_vote_far_right_leader_kotleba_wins_in_banska_bystrica.html

He sounds like an actual neo-fascist.

BTW the correct spelling of the region's name is Banská Bystrica; your link had it as "Banka" for some reason.

[Zanas]

Slovakia continues to be awful.

[Famous Mortimer]

What party, if any, is he affiliated with?

[YL]

According to the link I posted, "People's Party - Our Slovakia".  There's also this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovak_Brotherhood (but I don't know how up to date that is).

[ferenc_szombat]

What party, if any, is he affiliated with?

It's much more funnier - his party is connected with WW2 state-ruling party - de facto Slovak nazi party.

He is openly racist and fascist - he is using salute "Na stráž!" ("To the guard!"), Slovak version of "Sieg Heil".

[FredLindq]

How could this happen?! He got just 21,3% in the first round. Manka with 49,5% was a "shoe in" after the first round.


Vladimír Maňka   SMER-SD, KDH, SMK-MKP, SModS, ĽS-HZDS, HZD, SZ 49,47 %
Marian Kotleba   ĽSNS    21,30 %   

[freek]

How could this happen?! He got just 21,3% in the first round. Manka with 49,5% was a "shoe in" after the first round.


Vladimír Maňka   SMER-SD, KDH, SMK-MKP, SModS, ĽS-HZDS, HZD, SZ 49,47 %
Marian Kotleba   ĽSNS    21,30 %   

The turnout was low (25%). That makes predicting results quite difficult.

[Leftbehind]

What sort of power will this fascist wield?

[FredLindq]

But still. A huge surge between the first and second round.

[ferenc_szombat]

What sort of power will this fascist wield?

None at all. He will be a head of council, but he will be only fascist in it. Other councilors can outvoted his intentions.

I don't understand idea of this model - proportional regional elections with direct vote of the "governor".

Here is how the Banska Bystrica council will look:
http://www.sme.sk/volby-vuc/2013/vysledky/banskobystricky-kraj/#p2

[njwes]

Woah that's a crazy big difference between Bratislava and the hinterland!