Slovakia votes for a successor to the nation’s first female president. An April 6 runoff is expected WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio [Video]

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — (AP) — Voters in Slovakia headed to the polls on Saturday to elect a successor to Zuzana Čaputová, the country’s first female president and a staunch backer of neighboring Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Čaputová isn’t seeking a second term.

Peter Pellegrini, a close ally of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, is considered a favorite in the race for the largely ceremonial post of president. He leads a field of nine candidates in the first round of the presidential election to become the country’s sixth head of state since Slovakia gained independence in 1993 after Czechoslovakia split in two.

Polls will close at 2100 GMT (5 p.m. EDT) and results are expected Sunday.

If no candidate gets a majority, which is expected, the top two finishers will advance to a runoff on April 6.

Pellegrini, 48, who favors a strong role for the state, heads the …