On 11th August last Slovenians were informed by the leader of Parliament, Milan Brglez (Modern Party of the Centre, SMC) that they would be electing the president of the Republic on 22nd October and, if necessary, also on 12th November next. Outgoing head of State, Borut Pahor announced that he wanted to stand again.

On 28th September the Central Electoral Committee registered nine candidates for the election:

– Borut Pahor, outgoing president of the Republic, former Prime Minister (2008-2012) member of the Social Democrats (SD);

– Marjan Sarec, mayor of Kamnik, former actor (also impersonator of former President of the Republic (2002-2007) Janez Drnovsek). He is standing as an independent but has the support of his party the Marjana Sarca-Naprej Kamnik List;

– Ljudmila Novak (New Slovenia, NSi), former MEP, wants to make Slovenia one of the most developed countries in the world;

– Angelca Likovic (The Voice of Children and Families);

– Maja Makovec Brencic (The Modern Party of the Centre, SMC), at present Education, Science and Sports Minister;

– Suzana Lara Krause (People's Party, SLS);

– Romana Tomc (Democratic Party, SDS), MEP;

– Boris Popovic (Slovenia is ours), mayor of Koper;

– Andrej Sisko (United Slovenia).

According to a poll published by the institute 24ur, Borut Pahor is due to come out ahead in the first round on 22nd October with 44.7% of the vote. He is forecast to pull ahead of Marjan Sarec who is due to win 17.2% of the vote and Ljudmila Novak, 6.8% of the vote. Romana Tomc, is forecast to come fourth with 5.2% of the vote followed by Boris Popovic with 2.4% of the vote. The four other candidates are due to less than 2% of the vote.

Borut Pahor's term in office comes to an end on 22nd December next.

The Presidential Office

In Slovenia the Head of State is elected by direct universal suffrage in a majority two-round vote for a five year mandate that can be renewed once. The presidential office is mainly an honorary one. The President of the Republic is the commander in chief of the armed forces, he can intervene if the Drzavni Zbor (National Assembly), the lower house of Parliament, is prevented from meeting and declare a state of emergency and also call out the army. His decisions must however be ratified by parliament as soon as the latter can sit together in session again. The head of State appoints some high level civil servants and the ambassadors - he can also grant pardons.

All candidates standing in the presidential election must be aged 18 and have the support of at least 10 MPs or 5000 voters or a political party, which itself has to have the support of 3 MPs and 3000 voters. Since the country's independence on 25th June 1991 the Slovenia Presidents of the Republic have all come from the left of the political scale.

Reminder of the presidential election results on 11th November and 2nd December 2012 in Slovenia.

Turnout: 48.41% (1st round) and 42.41% (2nd round)

Source : Central Electoral Committee - http://www.dvk-rs.si/arhivi/vp2012