In the first round of the presidential elections in Slovenia, on Sunday, October 24, with 34,06 percent of the votes, Anže Logar (46), who is backed by the opposition Slovenian Democratic Party, won. Left-wing candidate Nataša Pirc Musar (13), who won 54 percent, is going with him to the second round on November 26,87.
The current president of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, could not run for office after two mandates.
Jansha's man
Ange Logar is a former minister of foreign affairs in the conservative government Janez Janša. The representatives of the European Union institutions criticized Janša for moving Slovenia to the right, and he faced accusations of "undemocratic and divisive politics".
Slovenia ElectionWinner of the first round: Anže Logar / Photo: AP Photo
During the campaign, Logar, who formally ran as an independent candidate, sought to shed a populist image and promised to be a president for "uniting" people from the entire political spectrum, writes DW.
On Sunday evening, Logar expressed satisfaction that his pre-election messages "resonated with the citizens" and promised "zero tolerance for corruption".
On Sunday evening, he invited Janša to his election headquarters for a celebration. Janez Janša lost in the parliamentary elections in April from a liberal politician and current prime minister Robert Golob.
Support of Golob Natasa Pirc Musar
Robert Golob's Freedom Movement was left without a representative in the second round: only one percent of voters voted for Milan Brglez.
Golob then on Sunday evening gave his support to Natasha Pirz Musar for the second round of elections because she "represents values close to ours", reports DW.
Pirc Musar is an influential lawyer and former head of the Slovenian data protection agency, DW writes further. She campaigned on issues of human rights and the rule of law, and faced accusations because of her husband's lucrative business at home and abroad.
"I'm looking forward to the second round," she said, "I'm looking forward to the final."
If she wins, the drink will be the first female leader of Slovenia, which has been a member of the European Union since 2004.
Analysts in Slovenia say that the second round will be tight, if the voters of both the liberals and the center-left gather around Pirc Musar.
Although the position of president in Slovenia is largely ceremonial, he leads the military and is responsible for appointing several top officials, including the governor of the central bank.
On Sunday, about 3000 million voters had the right to vote at over 1,7 polling stations.
DP/DW
Read daily news, analysis, commentary and interviews at www.vreme.com
