Right-wing politician takes lead in Slovenia’s presidential race

LJUBLJANA, Oct 23 (Reuters) – A right-wing former overseas minister, Anze Logar, gained most votes within the first spherical of Slovenia’s presidential election on Sunday, preliminary outcomes based mostly on a partial vote depend on the election fee website online confirmed.

Logar secured 34% of the vote whereas Natasa Pirc Musar, a lawyer, gained 26.88%, based mostly on round 80% of ballots forged, and they’re going to face a run-off on November 13.

Though the function is generally ceremonial, the president is commander in chief of the armed forces and in addition nominates a number of prime officers, together with the central financial institution governor. Most of these nominations additionally need to be confirmed by parliament.

The brand new president of Slovenia, a member of the European Union and NATO, will change Borut Pahor, a former trend mannequin who served two phrases and is commonly referred to in public because the Instagram president for his use of the social community.

Logar, 46, is a member of the eurosceptic, anti-immigrant Slovenian Democratic Get together (SDS) of ex-prime minister Janez Jansa, who misplaced a parliamentary election in April to the environmentalist Freedom Motion of recent Prime Minister Robert Golob.

Pirc Musar, a 54-year-old former TV presenter who’s now an influential lawyer, campaigned on human rights, the rule of regulation and social welfare points.

Musar is vying to turn out to be the primary feminine president of the small ex-Yugoslav republic.

“Whereas the president’s function in Slovenia is essentially ceremonial, the election consequence will mirror voter assist for liberal pro-EU political forces in relation to populist eurosceptic events,” the Teneo consultancy mentioned earlier than the election.

Reporting by Katja Lihtenvalner
Modifying by Ivana Sekularac, David Goodman and Gareth Jones

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.