Borut Pahor, the left-wing former Prime Minister of Slovenia, has won the country’s presidential election. Mr Pahor took more than double the number of votes of his rival, the outgoing independent President, Danilo Türk, in the run-off on Sunday 2 December. The campaign had been marked by demonstrations and increasing public dissatisfaction with the current right-wing government and politics in general.
In 2011 it became clear that the left-wing government headed by the Prime Minister, Borut Pahor was unlikely to last until the end of its mandate, with public dissatisfaction increasing due to the government’s failure to implement reforms and effectively manage the public finances. Parliamentary elections were held on 4 December 2011 with Zoran Janković, the mayor of the capital, Ljubljana, topping the polls. However, Mr Janković, who formed his own left-wing party called ‘Positive Slovenia’ to fight the election, was unable to form a coalition. The runner-up, Janez Janša, leader of Slovenia’s biggest right-wing party (the Slovenian Democratic Party, known as SDS), succeeded in this task and became Prime Minister. His government adopted a law on balancing public finances and launched reforms of pensions, the labour market and banking. However, these measures have not been popular: a poll taken in September 2012 found that 73% of Slovenians did not support the current government. There was great public distrust in the Prime Minister, Government, political parties and other institutions. Distrust in these institutions ranged from 60% to 70%; however, only 30% of the respondents distrusted the President of the Republic.
This first round of the election took place on 11 November. Borut Pahor received 39.9% of the vote, with the current President, Danilo Türk taking 35.9%. Milan Zver, Vice-President of the SDS, won only 24.2% and was eliminated. However, the main headline was the low turnout, at just over 48%. This was the lowest turnout in any presidential or parliamentary election since independence. A series of demonstrations took place ahead of the second round. Starting in Slovenia’s second-largest city, Maribor, where citizens expressed dissatisfaction with the town’s mayor, the protests quickly spread to other towns. The theme of the protests was unhappiness with the current government and politics in general, fuelled by austerity measures, alleged political corruption, and an impression of the absence of rule of law.
Presidential election, 2nd round
Both Mr Pahor and Mr Türk acknowledged the right of the demonstrators to make their voices heard, but condemned the violence that disturbed the otherwise peaceful protests. The second round of election took place on 2 December. Turnout fell to less than 42%. Mr Pahor easily won the poll, taking 67.4% of the valid votes, compared with 32.6% for Mr Türk.
Slovenia’s government Slovenia became independent in 1991. It joined the EU in 2004 and the euro in 2007.
The National Assembly is the highest legislative authority, with 90 MPs elected for four years. Current coalition is led by right-wing SDS party. The National Council comprises social, economic, professional and local interest groups and advises the National Assembly. It may ask for laws to be reviewed or ask for a referendum or public inquiry. The Government is the executive authority. The President is commander-in-chief of the armed forces. A largely ceremonial role, a presidency lasts five years and is renewable once.
Borut Pahor has been active in Slovenian politics for since 1990, and was Prime Minister from 2008 until his election defeat in 2011. He has been a Member of Parliament, rising to become President of the National Assembly. He has also been President of the Social Democrats (a position he held until June this year) and a Member of the European Parliament (2004-2008). The new President’s campaign was down-to-earth, focusing on doing volunteer work and visiting factories, farms, woods and other workplaces, where he worked alongside employees. He also helped to address the consequences of this autumn’s floods.
Many political analysts saw the key factors for Borut Pahor’s victory as his messages on the necessity of cooperation and ‘togetherness’, as well as his rhetorical skills. Mr Pahor is also seen as being truly honest, and is perceived by some citizens as one of the rare incorruptible Slovenian politicians. However, there are doubts as to whether his President can truly shift the course of the current government, not least in a European context. with ongoing austerity measures across the continent and the need to take measures, as a member of the euro, to balance public finances. Mr Pahor himself has stated that there is no alternative to the current government. Original text by Chapter 4, Burson-Marsteller’s affiliate in Central and Eastern Europe, and Futura PR, Chapter 4’s affiliate in Slovenia. chapter4.at futurapr.si