SLOVENIA: Danilo Turk almost certain of victory in presidential election
- 00:01:49
- ITN Source
SLOVENIA: Danilo Turk almost certain of victory in presidential election
Exit polls give leftist Danilo Turk a clear victory in the Slovenian presidential elections. Leftist former diplomat Danilo Turk was heading for victory in Slovenia's presidential runoff on Sunday with some 69 percent of the votes, exit polls showed. Analysts said Turk's likely margin of victory confirmed the growing discontent with Prime Minister Janez Jansa's conservative cabinet and would boost the opposition social democrats ahead of a parliamentary election due in autumn 2008. Conservative contender Lojze Peterle, backed by most of the centre-right government, had some 30 percent of the votes, according to the exit polls shown on two main TV stations. Preliminary results on the National Electoral Commission Web site confirmed the exit polls, showing that Turk, 55, a law professor and ex-diplomat backed by the left, was well ahead with 68.2 percent after about half the votes had been counted. "It appears the voters from all sectors of our society have been favourable of my candidacy. My message to the Slovenian people is let's work together for further improvement of our country in all fields," Turk told reporters after exit polls were shown. The new president, whose role is largely ceremonial, will be sworn in shortly before the small but wealthy ex-communist country takes over the European Union presidency in January. "To the EU I would say: Slovenia is your solid, faithful and credible partner. Rely on us, and we'll be a good president of the European Union next year," Turk said. Turk will succeed Janez Drnovsek, a popular left-winger who did not seek a second five-year mandate. Jansa's popularity plunged this year, mainly because of rising inflation since Slovenia adopted the euro in January. The president has a say in defence and foreign policy and will take an active part in international contacts during the EU presidency, when Turk's diplomatic background could be an asset. Turk was Slovenia's first ambassador to the United Nations. He chaired the U.N. Security Council in 1998-1999 and then became U.N. assistant secretary general for political affairs. He came second to Peterle in the first round of the election in October but has since gained support from backers of a losing leftist candidate. All Slovenia's presidents have been left wingers since the country quit communist Yugoslavia in 1991, and a Turk victory would continue this tradition.
ITN Source | November 12, 2007
