LJUBLJANA, Sept 2 (Hina) - The official countdown to Slovenia's Nov. 10 presidential election officially began on Monday with the opening of booths at which candidates have to collect signatures to be eligible for the ballot.
LJUBLJANA, Sept 2 (Hina) - The official countdown to Slovenia's
Nov. 10 presidential election officially began on Monday with the
opening of booths at which candidates have to collect signatures to
be eligible for the ballot. #L#
National print media estimate the election is less certain than
past ones as incumbent President Milan Kucan is not running for
office. The Ljubljana-based "Delo" says the battle for the "father
of the nation" will be more interesting, even though operational
leadership, according to the Constitution, is in the hands of the
prime minister.
Incumbent PM Janez Drnovsek is one of the likely candidates in the
presidential ballot.
The media mentioned independent candidate France Arhar as
Drnovsek's chief adversary in a probable second electoral round. A
former central bank governor, Arhar's standing according to public
opinion polls dropped in the wake of a scandal in connection with
his high manager's salary in the Vzajemna insurance company.
Judging by current surveys, the state prosecutor Barbara Brezigar
comes second after Drnovsek as the most likely candidate. She
enjoys the support of the opposition parties of the rightist
centre.
The president of the National Party, Zmago Jelincic, is also
running for president, as are a dozen less known candidates,
including several anonymous ones.
(hina) ha sb