Bratislava  - Slovak voters began electing their new head of state Saturday as polling stations opened across Slovakia, following two weeks of a nationalist-tinted campaign.

The new president is set to emerge from a tight duel in the run-off between the incumbent, President Ivan Gasparovic, 68, and opposition lawmaker Iveta Radicova, 52.

The run-off is viewed as a test for highly popular Prime Minister Robert Fico, who heavily campaigned for the incumbent, and hopes to retain control of all top posts in the Central European country of 5.4 million.

Slovakia thus faces a dramatic contest between leftist Fico and the embattled right-wing opposition, which is unpopular for its belt-tightening pro-market economic reforms that jump-started the country's economy.

While Gasparovic attacked his rival on nationalist and welfare issues, accusing her of drawing too close to Slovakia's ethnic Hungarians, Radicova stayed away from confrontation in an effort to win over Fico supporters who may dislike the incumbent.

Analysts say that Gasparovic, a former ally of Slovakia's post-communist authoritarian ex-premier Vladimir Meciar, represents his country's past, while Radicova, a fresh face in Slovak politics, is a symbol of its future.

In the run-off, a simple majority of participating voters is required for a candidate to win the five-year, largely-ceremonial office. Complete results are expected to be available early Sunday. (dpa)