Igor Šimko gains broad political support for Košice regional chairmanship

Igor Šimko, a candidate for the chairperson of the Košice Self-Governing Region, has expanded his political support for the upcoming 2026 regional elections. His program, titled ‘Kraj podľa ľudí’ (Region for the People), has gained endorsements from several new political entities, including the Slovak National Party (SNS), Strana Vidieka, Bratia Slovenska, and Právo na pravdu.

Šimko’s coalition now includes support from Hlas-SD, Smer-SD, and the Republika movement, alongside the newly joined parties. The SNS endorsement was announced by Peter Pamula, noting shared interests in social services, the status of caregivers, and the integration of regional and state assistance for families. Šimko emphasized that his leadership aims to prioritize residents over specific ideologies or political parties.

Other candidates for the regional chairmanship include the incumbent Rastislav Trnka, Marián Porvažník representing a broad coalition of several parties (including PS, KDH, and SaS), and Džemal Kodrazi.