Korcok Collects Necessary Signatures to Run for President (2)

Bratislava, November 7 (TASR) - Diplomat and ex-foreign affairs minister Ivan Korcok has collected the necessary 15,000 signatures to run for the post of president, he himself reported at a press conference on Tuesday. Korcok claimed that he actually managed to collect double the necessary amount. In his campaign, he wants to focus, for instance, on "completing the state". "It's been more than 30 years since Slovakia was established, but when it comes to completing the state we've stopped midway," opined Korcok, adding that many processes need to be rendered functional. Korcok also wants to focus on the issue of patriotism, which, according to him, has either disappeared from people's consciousness or is used as a word in such a manner by a certain group of politicians that many people don't want anything to do with it. "Modern patriotism is a topic to which I subscribe," he said, adding that the issue could be used to unite society, as Slovakia is divided because of many "dividing lines". Korcok announced his intention to run for president in late August. Another diplomat and ex-foreign affairs minister - Jan Kubis - is also currently trying to collect the necessary signatures. The next presidential election is set to take place in 2024. Incumbent President Zuzana Caputova doesn't intend to run for re-election. zel/df