Underdog wins Slovak election

Low turnout has given Mr Gasparovic an unconvincing mandate

Ivan Gasparovic has been elected as Slovak president in a surprise outcome as the country prepares to join the EU.

Results show the former parliamentary leader easily beat his one-time boss, the controversial ex-prime minister Vladimir Meciar.

But the turnout for Saturday's second round of voting was at an all-time low.

The BBC's Rob Cameron in the capital Bratislava says the campaign was marked by little enthusiasm for either of the two presidential candidates.

The vote for the largely ceremonial post of president took place just two weeks before Slovakia is due to join the European Union.

Little difference

Hardline nationalist Mr Meciar - whose government brought Slovakia instability and isolation in the mid-1990s - won more than a third of votes in the first round of voting and was predicted to win again.

But former parliament chairman Mr Gasparovic humiliated his former boss, securing nearly 60% of the vote according to the electoral committee.

ELECTION RESULTS Ivan Gasparovic: 59.91% Vladimir Meciar: 40.09% Turnout: 43.5% Analysis: Surprise victor

However, our correspondent says many Slovaks will have mixed feelings about the results of this election.

Critics say there is little difference between the two men.

Mr Gasparovic backed all of Mr Meciar's controversial policies during his time in office.

In the end 43.5% of Slovaks voted in Saturday's election.

Our correspondent says that for many it was a vote against Mr Meciar rather than a vote for his less well-known, former right-hand man.