Slovakia has elected its first female president a year after a journalist's murder triggered calls for change. Political novice Zuzana Caputova ran on a slogan of "Stand up to evil."

The pro-European leader, 45-year-old environ- mentalist and anti-corruption activist, supports gay rights and opposes a ban on abortion. Born into a working-class family in Bratislava, she grew up in the nearby town of Pezinok. Graduation from the Comenius University Faculty of Law in Bratislava in 1996. Mother of two, she is a member of the liberal Progressive Slovakia party, which has no seats in parliament.

She has no political experience and ran as the candidate for the Progresivne Slovensko party on a slogan of "Stand up to evil."

She gained prominence marching alongside 5.4 million people in anti-government protests after investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee were gunned down in February 2018.

"The motive for the murder was Kuciak's work as a journalist. Slovakian media reported that the suspect was a politically connected businessman who had long been suspected of being involved in the crime.       Kuciak had been investigating the man's business activities at the time of the killing.

 “We only have four judges to serve in the Constitutional Court and we need nine more elected, and Slovakia is waiting for a new president to choose those judges,” said Martin Poliacik, a member of the liberal Progressive Slovakia party, of which Caputova is deputy head. With her winning, he hopes that this could lead to a strong and adverse reaction  against the tide of populism that has swept much of Europe in the last few years.

Caputova, said in her victory speech that she would strive for an inclusive approach, pledging to refrain from “aggressive language” toward political foes.

Riding a wave of popular discontent over

widespread corruption. Her sweeping victory in a runoff election gave hope to opposition parties across the region that the tide might be turning against the ethnic nationalist and populist movements that have swept to power in recent years.

The presidency is less powerful than the prime minister's office, but the president is responsible for ratifying international treaties and appointing top judges, is commander-in-chief of the armed forces and can veto laws passed by parliament. 

But she left no doubt of her intention to get rid of  corruption and undemocratic practices.                                                          arranged by Toms