15 candidates for Slovakia presidential election

A total of 15 candidates received official candidacies to run for the 2014 Slovak presidential election, Parliamentary Chairman Pavol Paska said on Wednesday. The figure marks the highest number of candidates in a presidential election in Slovakia. There were 10, 12 and seven hopefuls in the 1999, 2004 and 2009 presidential elections respectively, according local news organization TASR. This will be the fourth direct presidential election in Slovakia's history. Rudolf Schuster was elected by the public in 1999. Incumbent President Ivan Gasparovic won the following election in 2004 and was reelected in 2009. The first round of the presidential election will take place on March 15, with a potential run-off on March 29. The list of presidential candidates including incumbent Prime Minister Robert Fico and one woman -- OLaNO party's MP Helena Mezenska.