Slovenia’s president Pahor faces runoff
LJUBLJANA (Slovenia): Slovenia’s President Borut Pahor, a former model and veteran politician known for his use of social media, won the most votes in a presidential election, but will face a runoff against an ambitious challenger.
A near-complete vote count showed Pahor received 47% of Sunday’s vote. His closest rival, Marjan Sarec, a former comedian who is mayor of the northern town of Kamnik, had 25%.
Nine candidates, including five women, were on the first round ballot for the largely ceremonial but still influential presidential post in the European Union member country.
Since no candidate won more than 50% of the vote, a runoff scheduled for Nov 12 is needed.
“I’ll do my best to prove that I’m the best choice. I’m glad for the support that I got in the first round,” Pahor said.
Pre-election surveys had shown that Pahor, 53, could win a majority of votes cast and therefore another term without a runoff election.
After results were announced late Sunday, Sarec suggested he had been underestimated in the polls and expressed confidence he would attract more voter support in the next three weeks.
“We will continue with the upward trajectory,” the smiling Sarec told a crowd in his campaign headquarters in Kamnik.
“People know me and trust me, because I have a good track record.”
After casting his ballot, Pahor said he knew that no Slovenian president in 20 years has won a second term in office.
But he said “we did so much in five years” that it was worth his trying to seek re-election. — AP