The Slovak parliament ratified the European Union’s constitution in a vote today, a year after the country joined the bloc.

Slovakia’s former authoritarian prime minister edged out the expected favourite in the presidential election and advanced to a second round against a former political ally, according to preliminary results released today.

Slovakians, among the newest members of Nato and poised to join the European Union, vote for a new president today, choosing from among a foreign minister, a former prime minister and nine other candidates.