LJUBLJANA, Dec 2 (Hina) - Slovenia's incumbent premier Janez Drnovsek, was elected as the new president of this country on Sunday, after he mustered over 56 percent of votes in the second round of the presidential election.
LJUBLJANA, Dec 2 (Hina) - Slovenia's incumbent premier Janez
Drnovsek, was elected as the new president of this country on
Sunday, after he mustered over 56 percent of votes in the second
round of the presidential election. #L#
After counting 92 percent of ballots, the electoral commission
reported late last night that the long-time premier Drnovsek won
56.21 percent of votes, while the second candidate, Barbara
Brezigar, won 43.79 percent. The turnout at the presidential run-
off election was only 63.5 percent.
"Now we are all together moving towards the challenges of the
future, and I, as the president, will work so that the future may be
more beautiful and secure," Drnovsek said after the announcement of
the returns. He also congratulated to his rival, Ms. Brezigar, on "a
fairly good result".
Brezigar, a former justice minister and state prosecutor, said that
despite her defeat in the election she was satisfied with number of
voters who cast their ballots for her showing that they were in
favour of trends for changes in the Slovene politics.
"She has brought much freshness in the Slovene political space and
pointed to the need of radical changes in relation to democracy.
Brezigar's good result is a turning point in the Slovene politics
and Drnovsek is aware of it," said the leader of opposition Democrat
Christians, Andrej Bajuk, who supported Brezigar's candidacy in
the election campaign.
The incumbent Slovene president, Milan Kucan who supported
Drnovsek, said on Sunday that Drnovsek was the best solution for
Slovenes because of his experience in the politics.
According to some announcements from official sources, Drnovsek is
going to resign from the premier's post in the beginning of this
week, and he should be inaugurated as the head of state by 23
December. Until that date, the parliament in which Drnovsek's
Liberal Democratic Party (LDS) has a majority of seats should vote
about a new government which is likely to be led by the incumbent
finance minister, Antun Rop, who is to succeed Drnovsek in the
premier's office.
(hina) ms