A record number of hopefuls are running in Slovakia's presidential election in March after 15 candidacies were declared valid, dpa quoted parliamentary Speaker Pavol Paska as saying Wednesday. The favourite is Prime Minister Robert Fico, a Social Democrat. The line-up also includes one woman. If none of the candidates acquires a majority of the vote on March 15, a runoff would be held March 29 between the two candidates with the most votes. The winner will replace President Ivan Gasparovic, who will remain in office until June 15. The election date was announced less than a month ago.
