Harabin: I'm Real Election Winner

(TA3, 'V politike', March 17) I'm unequivocally the winner of the election, without money, without the support of political parties and without the support of the media, unsuccessful presidential candidate Stefan Harabin stated on TA3's discussion programme 'V politike' (In Politics) on Sunday. Harabin maintains that he made no mistakes in his campaign and claimed that it was voters of another unsuccessful candidate, Marian Kotleba (People's Party Our Slovakia/LSNS), who helped to advance Maros Sefcovic to the run-off round [Harabin and Kotleba were courting similar voters, support from whom was split between 14.35 and 10.39 percent, respectively, whereas Sefcovic advanced to the run-off on 18.66 percent - ed. note]. Harabin congratulated Sefcovic and Caputova on their win, although "not on the values they uphold". Harabin stressed that he rejected any vote racketeering and reiterated that Zuzana Caputova engaged in this with Robert Mistrik, when the latter withdrew from the race and endorsed the former. "In whose favour did he withdraw? Mine?" asked Harabin, insisting that a prosecutor should look into such an election deal. According to Harabin, not even Marian Kotleba offered any solutions to the problems bedevilling Slovakia, which Harabin believes are the end of Slovakia, the loss of the traditional family and state sovereignty. "Of all the hopefuls, I was the only one who offered solutions, courage and also the ability to shoulder the burden of responsibility," he claimed. Harabin sees his future either as Slovak president, as he plans to run in the next race as well, as a judge at the Slovak Supreme Court or a judge in Luxembourg or Strasbourg. He insists that he won't found any political party, although he didn't specify whether or not he might join any of the existing parties. mf/df