2007 Slovenian presidential election

none March 2026 Slovenia presidential 2002 Slovenian presidential election 2002 2012 Slovenian presidential election 2012 21 October 2007 (first round)11 November 2007 (second round) Danilo Türk (20070108 EP-154599B) (cropped).jpg Danilo Türk Independent politician SD–DeSUS–Zares–AS 677,333 68.03% Lojze Peterle 2006-12-14.jpg Lojze Peterle Independent politician NSi–SDS–SLS 318,288 31.97% 300px Second round results by electoral unit 300px Second round results by constituency 1 Türk: #e87588 50–60% #de3d58 60–70% #c91a38 70–80% #a9001c 80–90%Peterle: #81d0d0 50–60% President Janez Drnovšek Independent politician Danilo Türk Independent politician Presidential elections were held in Slovenia in October and November 2007 to elect the successor to Janez Drnovšek.http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/6220791.html Slovenian presidential election to be held in October Xinhua 20 July 2007 2008-09-21 8 October 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121008005714/http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/6220791.html live France Cukjati, the President of the National Assembly, called the elections on 20 June 2007. http://24ur.com/novice/slovenija/volitve-cez-tri-mesece.html Volitve čez tri mesece 2008-09-05 24ur.com 20 June 2007 sl 20 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110520151334/http://24ur.com/novice/slovenija/volitve-cez-tri-mesece.html live Seven candidates competed in the first round on 21 October 2007;http://24ur.com/bin/article.php?article_id=3106278 Sedem kandidatov na volitve 2008-09-05 24ur.com 27 September 2007 sl 1 July 2012 https://archive.today/20120701102640/http://24ur.com/bin/article.php?article_id=3106278 live three entered the race as independent candidates, the other four were supported by political parties. Several political events, as well as tension between the Government and the political opposition, overshadowed the campaign. The front runner Lojze Peterle, supported by the governing conservative coalition, won the first round with far fewer votes than predicted by opinion polls. In the second round, held on 11 November 2007, Peterle faced the runner-up, the left-wing candidate Danilo Türk. Türk won the second round in a landslide, with 68.03% of the vote. http://volitve.gov.si/vp2007/ Volitve predsednika republike 2007 2008-09-05 11 November 2007 sl dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080706141939/http://volitve.gov.si/vp2007/ 6 July 2008 In a referendum called by the National Council, and held on the same day as the second round, the electorate voted to overturn a law providing for the nationalization of citizens' share in the major national insurance company. Nearly three-quarters of the votes were cast against the law. After both election and referendum results were announced, Prime Minister Janez Janša announced that he might resign, following what he perceived to be a heavy defeat for the government. The government later won a vote of confidence in the National Assembly. Background left|150px|thumb|Janez Drnovšek, the incumbent president, announced he would not run for president again The role of the president of Slovenia is mainly ceremonial. One of the president's duties is to nominate the Prime Minister, after consulting with political groups represented in the National Assembly. The president also proposes candidates for various state offices, as well as judicial appointments to the Constitutional and Supreme Court, which must be approved by the National Assembly. In rare circumstances, the president possesses the power to pass laws and dissolve the National Assembly. The President is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Unlike the majority of the government, which is chosen by the National Assembly and elected through proportional representation, the president is directly elected by the majority of Slovenian voters.http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/slovenia/slovenia_brief.html Slovenia Country Brief 2008-02-05 Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 20 January 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080120003813/http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/slovenia/slovenia_brief.html live The previous presidential election in 2002 brought major changes to Slovenian politics. The former president Milan Kučan, in office since the first free elections held in the Republic of Slovenia in April 1990 (before the country's independence from Yugoslavia), was forbidden by the constitution from running for president again, and announced his retirement from active politics. Prime Minister Janez Drnovšek of the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia stood for the office, comfortably winning the runoff against conservative candidate Barbara Brezigar. http://volitve.gov.si/vp2002/ Poročilo o izidu volitev predsednika republike 2008-09-05 Republiška volilna komisija 10 December 2007 sl dead https://web.archive.org/web/20111010060126/http://volitve.gov.si/vp2002/ 10 October 2011 The 2004 legislative election brought further changes and a political swing to the right. Janez Janša, the leader of a right-wing coalition, formed the new government. In Slovenia, this was the first time after 1992 that the President and the Prime Minister had represented opposing political factions for more than a few months. Between 2002 and 2004, the relationship between President Drnovšek and Janez Janša, then leader of the opposition, were considered more than goodhttp://www.mladina.si/tednik/200328/clanek/konvencija/index.print.html-l2 https://web.archive.org/web/20030729023802/http://www.mladina.si/tednik/200328/clanek/konvencija/index.print.html-l2 dead 29 July 2003 Iskalci vizije 2009-02-09 2003 Mladina sl and in the first year of cohabitation, no major problems arose. At the beginning of his term, Drnovšek, who was ill with cancer, stayed out of public view. When he reemerged in late 2005 he had changed his lifestyle: he became a vegan, moved out of the capital into the countryside, and withdrew from party politics completely, ending his already frozen membership in the Liberal Democracy. Drnovšek's new approach to politics prompted one political commentator to nickname him "Slovenia's Gandhi". https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/09/world/europe/09drnovsek.html Slovenian President Finds Peace and Wants to Share It 2008-09-05 The New York Times 9 September 2006 Nicholas Wood 18 January 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160118075148/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/09/world/europe/09drnovsek.html live http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article2870371.ece All hail the mystic President 2008-09-05 Times Online 15 November 2007 London Martin Fletcher 2 December 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081202053513/http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article2870371.ece dead The relationship between Drnovšek and the government quickly became tense. Disagreements began with Drnovšek's initiatives in foreign politics, aimed at solving major foreign conflicts, including those in Darfur and Kosovo. Initially, these initiatives were not openly opposed by the Prime Minister, but were criticized by the foreign minister Dimitrij Rupel,http://www.mladina.si/tednik/200544/clanek/slo--zunanja_politika-ali_h_zerdin/ Kosovska bitka: Drnovšek proti Ruplu 2009-02-09 Mladina 2005 sl 24 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080924170245/http://www.mladina.si/tednik/200544/clanek/slo--zunanja_politika-ali_h_zerdin/ live Drnovšek's former collaborator and close political ally until 2004. http://24ur.com/novice/slovenija/rop-rupel-se-je-odlocil-po-svoje.html?ar= Rop: Rupel se je odločil po svoje 2009-02-09 24ur.com 2004-06-26 sl 29 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110929161526/http://24ur.com/novice/slovenija/rop-rupel-se-je-odlocil-po-svoje.html?ar= live The disagreements moved to issues of domestic politics in October 2006, when Drnovšek publicly criticised the treatment of the Romani family Strojans. The neighborhood had forced the Strojans to relocate, which in turn subjected them to police supervision and limitation of movement. The disagreements however escalated when the parliamentary majority repeatedly rejected President's candidates for the Governor of the Bank of Slovenia, beginning with the rejection of incumbent Mitja Gaspari. http://www.ukom.gov.si/eng/slovenia/publications/slovenia-news/4274/4288/ Gaspari Three Votes Short of Winning Second Term 2008-09-05 Government communication office 6 February 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20080305035710/http://www.ukom.gov.si/eng/slovenia/publications/slovenia-news/4274/4288/ 5 March 2008 The friction continued over the appointment of other state official nominees, including Constitutional Court judges. Although the President's political support suffered after his personal transformation, the polls nevertheless showed public backing of the President against an increasingly unpopular Government. http://www.mladina.si/tednik/200722/clanek/slo-tema--jure_trampus/ Lepotica in zver 2008-09-05 Mladina sl 31 October 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071031084616/http://www.mladina.si/tednik/200722/clanek/slo-tema--jure_trampus/ live The tension reached its height in May 2007, when the newly appointed director of the Slovenian Secret Service Matjaž Šinkovec unclassified several documents from the period before 2004, revealing, among other, that Drnovšek had used secret funds for personal purposes between 2002 and 2004. The President reacted with a harsh criticism of the government's policies, accusing the ruling coalition of abusing its power for personal delegitimationhttp://24ur.com/novice/slovenija/vlada-me-skusa-zlomiti.html Vlada me skuša zlomiti 2009-02-09 24ur.com 18 May 2007 sl 29 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110929161440/http://24ur.com/novice/slovenija/vlada-me-skusa-zlomiti.html live and labeled the Prime Minister as "the leader of the negative guys".http://www.dnevnik.si/novice/slovenija/306840 Obletnica Dnevnikovega razkritja: Po letu dni afera Sova še vedno brez epiloga 2009-02-09 Dnevnik 21 March 2008 sl Predsednik Drnovšek je takrat o Janši zapisal: "Kaj počnejo naši negativci? Njihov poglavar je ves užaljen, ker sem njegovo veličino užalil z nekaj kritičnimi pripombami. In zato se mora maščevati. Nagnal je vse svoje pomagače, da najdejo kaj slabega, kaj blata za metanje. In brskajo in iščejo, pri tem jih nič ne moti, če uničujejo državne institucije, da bi le kaj našli, da bo gospodar zadovoljen." 21 September 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090921012512/http://www.dnevnik.si/novice/slovenija/306840 live After years of speculation about his health and intentions, Janez Drnovšek announced in February 2007 that he would not run for president again. http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=1&c_id=112536 Drnovšek ne bo znova kandidiral 2008-09-05 Rtvslo.si 26 June 2006 sl 20 June 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080620175546/http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=1&c_id=112536 live Candidates Requirements for candidacy Under Slovenian Election Law, candidates for president require support of either: 10 members of the National Assembly, one or more political parties and either 3 members of the National Assembly or 3,000 voters, or 5,000 voters. Each political party can support only one candidate. In the election, the president is elected with a majority of the vote. If no candidate receives more than half of votes, the top two candidates meet in the second round of election. http://www.dvk.gov.si/PREDSEDNIK2007/ZVPR.html Zakon o volitvah predsednika republike (ZVPR) 2008-09-05 Uradni list RS, št. 39/1992 7 August 1992 sl 5 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080905112530/http://www.dvk.gov.si/PREDSEDNIK2007/ZVPR.html live Leading candidates The first official candidate was Lojze Peterle, a conservative member of the European Parliament and first democratically elected Prime Minister of Slovenia (1990–1992), who announced his candidacy in November 2006. http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=124555 Peterle kandidat za predsednika države 2008-09-05 Rtvslo.si 2 November 2006 sl 6 May 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080506142033/http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=124555 live He was endorsed by the three government center-right parties, New Slovenia (NSi), Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), and Slovenian People's Party (SLS). http://24ur.com/novice/slovenija/enotna-podpora-peterletu.html Enotna podpora Peterletu 2008-09-05 24ur.com 15 June 2007 sl 20 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110520151437/http://24ur.com/novice/slovenija/enotna-podpora-peterletu.html live Drnovšek's announcement that he would not run for president again led to expectations that the Social Democrats (SD) would nominate their leader Borut Pahor and indeed Pahor confirmed that he was ready to run for the office.http://www.finance.si/178684/ Pahor pripravljen kandidirati za predsednika države 2008-09-05 Finance 31 March 2007 sl 18 January 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160118075148/http://www.finance.si/178684/ livehttp://24ur.com/novice/slovenija/pahor-bi-kandidiral-za-predsednika.html Pahor bi kandidiral za predsednika 2008-09-05 24ur.com 4 March 2007 sl 12 October 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081012022040/http://24ur.com/novice/slovenija/pahor-bi-kandidiral-za-predsednika.html live The Social Democrats had become the most popular party in opinion polls and were considered the likely winners at the next general election in 2008; opinion polls indicated that Pahor would easily win the presidential election. http://24ur.com/bin/article.php?article_id=3098436&page=4&p_all_items=43 Pahor vodi v bitki za predsednika 2008-09-05 24ur.com 26 May 2007 sl 18 January 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160118075148/http://24ur.com/bin/article.php?article_id=3098436&page=4&p_all_items=43 live However, after months of mixed signals, Pahor finally announced that he would instead concentrate on the general election and would not run for the mostly ceremonial office of the president. http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=1&c_id=145209 Pahor s SD-jem na parlamentarne volitve 2008-09-05 Rtvslo.si 22 June 2007 sl 9 November 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071109125907/http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=1&c_id=145209 live The Social Democrats then nominated Danilo Türk, a former Slovenian ambassador and high official in the United Nations, who at the time was a professor at the University of Ljubljana's Faculty of Law. http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=146955 Türk tudi uradno s podporo SD-ja 2008-09-05 Rtvslo.si 13 July 2007 sl 23 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071223162021/http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=146955 live Türk's candidacy was also endorsed by Zares http://www.finance.si/186521 Tudi v Zares bodo podprli Türka 2008-09-05 Finance 12 July 2007 sl 18 January 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160118075148/http://www.finance.si/186521 live and the pensioners' party DeSUS.http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=150650 DeSUS soglasno za Danila Türka 2008-09-05 Rtvslo.si 27 August 2007 sl 2 May 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210502110245/https://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=150650 live Türk also gained support from Active Slovenia (AS) and the Party of Ecological Movements (SEG), two parties not represented in the National Assembly.http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=148017 Gaspari in Türk začenjata kampanjo 2008-09-05 Rtvslo.si 26 June 2007 sl 2 May 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210502110239/https://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=148017 live Liberal Democracy of Slovenia (LDS), which had earlier discussed the candidacy with Danilo Türk, subsequently nominated Mitja Gaspari, the former Governor of the Bank of Slovenia. Gaspari had earlier had discussions with the Social Democrats about the candidacy. http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=145876 Gaspari z LDS v predsedniško tekmo 2008-09-05 Rtvslo.si 30 June 2007 sl 2 May 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210502110240/https://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=145876 live The Slovenian National Party (SNS) nominated its leader, Zmago Jelinčič.http://www.finance.si/182731 Jelinčič bi bil rad Drnovšek 2008-09-05 Finance 25 May 2007 sl 18 January 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160118075148/http://www.finance.si/182731 live Jelinčič had already run for the office at the 2002 election, finishing third with 8.51% of the votes. Peterle, Türk and Gaspari all decided to enter the election as independent candidates and all managed to collect enough nominating votes with Peterle reaching the required number within the first 4 hours of the nominating process. Jelinčič was supported by his fellow party members.http://www.zurnal24.si/cms/novice/volitve/index.html?id=8334 Peterle in Jelinčič prva uradna kandidata 2008-09-05 Žurnal24 6 September 2007 sl April 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes Early polls indicated that Peterle, who had been campaigning for months and had cultivated the image of a "man of the people", would win the election in a runoff against Türk or possibly Gaspari.http://24ur.com/bin/article.php?article_id=3107033 Jelinčič najbolj napredoval 2008-09-05 24ur.com 6 October 2007 sl 1 July 2012 https://archive.today/20120701102304/http://24ur.com/bin/article.php?article_id=3107033 live http://www.robert-schuman.org/oee.php?num=469 Alojz Peterle and Danilo Türk to face each other in the second round of the presidential election in Slovenia on 11 November 2008-11-02 The Robert Schuman Foundation 21 October 2007 28 October 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071028092938/http://www.robert-schuman.org/oee.php?num=469 live Other candidates Other candidates, none of whom were expected to win a significant share of votes, were Darko Krajnc of the formerly parliamentarian Youth Party of Slovenia, the disabled rights activist Elena Pečarič, and Monika Piberl, supported by the Women's Voice of Slovenia party.http://24ur.com/novice/slovenija/zakaj-so-kandidirali.html Zakaj so kandidirali? 2008-09-05 24ur.com 21 August 2008 sl 20 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110520151139/http://24ur.com/novice/slovenija/zakaj-so-kandidirali.html live Pečarič was supported by non-aligned Majda Širca, independent Slavko Gaber and Roberto Battelli, representative of the Italian minority in Slovenia.http://www.zurnal24.si/cms/novice/volitve/index.html?id=10653 Pečaričeva peta kandidatka 2008-09-05 Žurnal24 20 September 2007 sl April 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes Krajnc and Piberl were supported by non-parliamentary political parties so they only needed to collect 3,000 support votes. http://24ur.com/bin/article.php?article_id=3106207 Krajnc vložil kandidaturo 2008-09-05 24ur.com 25 September 2007 sl 18 January 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160118075148/http://24ur.com/bin/article.php?article_id=3106207 livehttp://www.finance.si/192314 Monika Piberl kot sedma v boj 2008-09-05 Finance 1 October 2007 sl 18 January 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160118075148/http://www.finance.si/192314 live Several other candidates publicly announced their intention to run for the office. Jože Andrejaš, Jožef Horvat, Matej Sedmak, Marjan Beranič, Marko Kožar and Pavel Premrl failed to gather sufficient public support or later decided to withdraw from the race. http://www.zurnal24.si/cms/novice/volitve/index.html Predsedniške volitve 2007 2008-09-05 Žurnal24 sl https://web.archive.org/web/20080928031209/http://www.zurnal24.si/cms/novice/volitve/index.html 28 September 2008 dead Artur Štern, after leading a spoof campaign, announced that he was in fact performing a hidden camera experiment. http://24ur.com/novice/slovenija/sternova-filmska-kampanja.html Šternova filmska kampanja 2008-09-05 24ur.com 13 September 2007 sl 11 February 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090211013222/http://24ur.com/novice/slovenija/sternova-filmska-kampanja.html live The footage was used by Franci Kek and Vojko Anzeljc in a film Gola resnica, airing in early 2009 and addressing objectivity of media, problems with election legislation and reactions from Slovenes. http://www.kolosej.si/filmi/film/gola-resnica/ Gola resnica 2009-03-17 Kolosej.si sl 16 February 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090216143347/http://www.kolosej.si/filmi/film/gola-resnica/ live First round campaign The official election campaign began in late September 2007. The campaigns of the three front runners were based mostly on the personal appeal of the candidates, with few concrete statements about political issues. Zmago Jelinčič led an aggressive campaign, focusing on denouncing the three front runners, the Government, the ethnic and religious minorities, the Roman Catholic Church, and demanding an aggressive policy towards neighbouring Croatia.http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=152785 Jelinčič: Slovenija potrebuje patriota 2008-09-05 Rtvslo.si 20 September 2007 sl 2 May 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210502110241/https://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=152785 live The candidates appeared in televised debates during which they discussed various topics. One of them were the rules governing the voting of non-resident nationals, which had been changed by the National Electoral Commission during the campaign. Before the campaign, non-resident nationals who wanted to cast their votes as absentee ballots had been obliged to request voting materials, but the commission had introduced a new system in which such materials were sent to all non-residents entered in the electoral register, whether they had asked for them or not. Opposition parties, representing the left wing of Slovenian politics, disliked this move because the record of voters' addresses was not always reliable, and also because the rules had been changed after the campaign had already started. http://www.dnevnik.si/novice/slovenija/327798 Opozicijski poslanci izpodbijajo določbo o glasovanju iz tujine 2008-09-05 Dnevnik 18 June 2007 sl 19 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110719182025/http://www.dnevnik.si/novice/slovenija/327798 live They particularly opposed the change because voters from abroad seemed to favor right-wing parties, so that in the event of a very close ballot, votes from non-residents could tip the scale in favour of Peterle.http://www.mladina.si/tednik/200742/clanek/slo--volitve-jure_trampus/ Kaj bo, če bo tisoč glasov razlike? 2008-09-05 Mladina 2007/42 sl 24 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080924070544/http://www.mladina.si/tednik/200742/clanek/slo--volitve-jure_trampus/ live Other events overshadowed the campaign. During the summer, journalists Matej Šurc and Blaž Zgaga launched a Petition Against Censorship and Political Pressures on Journalists in Slovenia, alleging government interference with journalism. The petition was signed by hundreds of Slovenian journalists from the mainstream media.http://www.peticijazopercenzuro.com/ Peticija zoper cenzuro Matej Šurc, Blaž Zgaga 2008-09-09 21 October 2007 sl https://web.archive.org/web/20080913094352/http://www.peticijazopercenzuro.com/ 13 September 2008 dead It was sent to the heads of state, prime ministers and parliamentary speakers of all EU member states during the campaign. Following the petition, the International Press Institute (IPI) sent a fact-finding mission to Ljubljana in November, to discuss the claims made in the petition with members of the Slovenian media. The contents of the mission's report remain confidential, but IPI called for the establishment of an independent commission to investigate the claims further.http://www.freemedia.at/cms/ipi/freedom_detail.html?country=/KW0001/KW0003/KW0081/ World Press Freedom Review 2008-09-10 International Press Institute 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071012131115/http://www.freemedia.at/cms/ipi/freedom_detail.html?country=%2FKW0001%2FKW0003%2FKW0081%2F 12 October 2007 dead Another event which attracted much debate was the Supreme Court's annulment of the 1946 war crimes conviction of Gregorij Rožman. Rožman was the Catholic bishop of Ljubljana who had been found guilty of war crimes and treason during World War II as a result of his collaboration with Italian and German occupation forces. Several attempts during the 1990s to review the trial had failed. This had led to Janša's government changing the law, enabling the religious communities to request a review of trials of their deceased members, something which had previously been reserved only for close relatives. After the Archdiocese of Ljubljana initiated the review, the Supreme Court annulled the 1946 trial on procedural grounds, effectively rehabilitating Rožman, a decision that caused much controversy. This proved harmful for Peterle's campaign, as he was closely associated with the Catholic Church.Note One of the controversies during the short-lived centre-right government of Andrej Bajuk's government was the participation of several leading members of the coalition in a ceremony in June 2000. The ceremony honored the members of the Slovene Home Guard, a collaborationist militia, killed by the Communist regime in June 1945. At the ceremony, anthems of the Slovene Home Guard were sung. Among those attending were Prime Minister Andrej Bajuk, chairman of the National Assembly Janez Podobnik, Defense Minister Janez Janša, Foreign Minister Lojze Peterle, and Archbishop of Ljubljana Franc Rode.Sabrina Ramet: Slovenia since 1990 https://web.archive.org/web/20061214223826/http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=1422&fuseaction=topics.publications&doc_id=8506&group_id=7427 14 December 2006 Retrieved 2008-09-22. When asked about the Rožman case in a TV debate, Peterle confined himself to remarking that he was a supporter of the rule of law, that the war had divided the nation and that Rožman had played some part in that. http://24ur.com/bin/article.php?article_id=3108074 Zadnje soočenje na POP TV 2008-09-05 24ur.com 18 October 2007 sl 7 July 2012 https://archive.today/20120707191746/http://24ur.com/bin/article.php?article_id=3108074 live The last opinion polls published before the first round predicted a runoff between Peterle, who would win 40%, and either Türk or Gaspari. The latter were each predicted to receive 20–25%; most polls predicted a substantially larger share for Türk. http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/28412/peterle_first_but_run_off_likely_in_slovenia Peterle First, But runoff Likely in Slovenia 2008-09-05 Angus Reid Global Monitor 30 September 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20080331230321/http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/28412/peterle_first_but_run_off_likely_in_slovenia 31 March 2008 usurped First round result and reactions right|thumb|300px|First round winners by electoral unit Lojze Peterle: 20–30% (pastel blue), 30–40% (dark blue) Mitja Gaspari: 20–30% (yellow) Zmago Jelinčič: 20–30% (orange) The first round, held on 21 October, brought unexpected results. Contrary to predictions, Peterle won less than 29% of the vote, with Türk and Gaspari finishing a close second and third, respectively. Jelinčič, who according to opinion polls was expected to win around 12% of the vote, actually won almost 20%, finishing first in two of Slovenia's eight electoral units. Prime Minister Janez Janša blamed Peterle's poor showing on certain topics that were brought up during the campaign by "hidden centres of power". This was a reference to the journalists' petition, the timing of the Supreme Court's decision on the Rožman case and misinterpretation of Janša's and Minister of Economy Andrej Vizjak's remarks on reasons for Slovenia's high inflation in 2007. http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=155520 Janša upa na korekten drugi krog 2008-09-05 Rtvslo.si 23 October 2007 sl 25 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071225102755/http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=155520 live Janša je tudi izpostavil, da so v zadnjih nekaj tednih različni vplivni centri iz ozadij sprožili teme, ki naj bi vplivale na izid. Med temi naj bi bile novinarska peticija, razveljavitev obsodbe škofu Rožmanu ter sprevračanje njegove izjave in izjave ministra Vizjaka o vzrokih za inflacijo. Runoff campaign 300px|thumb|right|Runoff election ballot Following the unexpected results of the first round, new opinion polls showed major changes, giving Türk a large lead over Peterle. http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=155880 Ankete kažejo na zmago Türka 2008-09-05 Rtvslo.si 27 October 2007 sl 30 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071230180220/http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=155880 live Liberal Democracy of Slovenia, which supported Gaspari in the first round, announced it would support Türk in the second.http://24ur.com/novice/slovenija/t-rku-tudi-podpora-lds.html Türku tudi podpora LDS 2008-09-05 24ur.com 6 November 2007 sl 20 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110520151407/http://24ur.com/novice/slovenija/t-rku-tudi-podpora-lds.html live After the surprise gains of the flamboyant Jelinčič in the first round, the campaigns of both candidates opted for more concrete political statements in public campaigning and debates. Peterle replaced the head of his campaign, and concentrated on questioning Türk's role in the 1991 secession from Yugoslavia. Peterle alleged that at the time when he, as Prime Minister, struggled for Slovenia's independence, Türk continued to act as an official representative of Yugoslavia in international institutions.http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=156762 Fronta na liniji Türkove vloge v 90. letih 2008-09-05 Rtvslo.si 7 November 2007 sl 9 January 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080109232754/http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=156762 live The campaign was backed by the Prime Minister Janša and the Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel who went so far as to confirm Peterle's claims on the Foreign Ministry's official website.http://www.mladina.si/tednik/200745/clanek/slo-tema--jure_trampus/ Pravi za zgago 2008-09-05 Mladina 2007/45 sl 2 May 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080502150447/http://www.mladina.si/tednik/200745/clanek/slo-tema--jure_trampus/ live Türk denied the allegations, pointing to his opinion piece in the International Herald Tribune advocating international recognition of Slovenia, and the fact that it was Rupel himself who in 1992 appointed Türk as the Ambassador to the UN and praised him for his service to the country. http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=156690 Türk: Kaže, da se je nekomu zameglil razum 2008-09-05 Rtvslo.si 6 November 2007 sl 3 January 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080103020212/http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=156690 live Peterle's new strategy appeared to backfire, and the polls before the runoff predicted that Türk would win between 63% and over 70% of the vote. http://www.b92.net/eng/news/region-article.php?yyyy=2007&mm=11&dd=09&nav_id=45234 Tuerk leads in Slovenia presidential runoff 2008-09-05 B92 9 November 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20110606220503/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/region-article.php?yyyy=2007&mm=11&dd=09&nav_id=45234 6 June 2011 dead http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/28934/tuerk_surges_ahead_in_slovenian_run_off https://archive.today/20120717200911/http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/28934/tuerk_surges_ahead_in_slovenian_run_off usurped 17 July 2012 Tuerk Surges Ahead in Slovenian runoff 2008-09-05 Angus Reid Global Monitor 10 November 2007 Runoff result and reactions The runoff was held on 11 November 2007. Exit poll results published at the closing of the vote predicted a victory for Türk, with 69% of the vote.http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=157119 Türku visoka zmaga za najvišji položaj 2008-09-05 Rtvslo.si 7 November 2007 sl 15 January 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080115072942/http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=37&c_id=157119 live "I'm very happy with the results as they appear now. I want to be a president who is uniting people. I believe that conditions here are such that people have a strong desire for something new," Türk told reporters. Peterle conceded immediately. In his first statements, Peterle said his defeat was a vote against the ruling Janša government, and that he had expected a better result. He added, however, that he would have regretted it if he had not decided to run for the office.http://24ur.com/novice/slovenija/ali-vas-je-prepricljiva-zmaga-danila-t-rka-presenetila.html Delovati moramo kot ekipa 2008-11-02 24ur.com 12 November 2007 sl 20 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110520151532/http://24ur.com/novice/slovenija/ali-vas-je-prepricljiva-zmaga-danila-t-rka-presenetila.html live By midnight, unofficial results from the Electoral Commission gave Türk a lead of 68% vs. 32%. Türk won in all eight electoral units, with Peterle narrowly winning in only four of 88 electoral districts. Together with the second round of the election, a referendum on a law providing for the nationalization of citizens' share in the major national insurance company was held as well. Nearly three-quarters of the votes were cast against the law. The ballots from abroad that were considered potentially contentious before the election proved to have very little effect on the result. While Peterle received more votes from abroad than Türk, both the total number of votes and the difference was smaller than expected (3693 for Peterle and 3040 for Türk). http://www.dnevnik.si/novice/slovenija/281752/ DVK je preštela glasovnice iz tujine, končni rezultati predsedniških volitev znani 27. novembra 2009-03-24 dnevnik.si 20 November 2007 sl 19 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110719182412/http://www.dnevnik.si/novice/slovenija/281752/ live Two days after the election, Prime Minister Janša announced that he might resign following what was perceived as a heavy defeat for the Government: "We will analyze the situation further, but all possibilities are open, including a resignation of the Government." He said that "it is particularly worrying that a lot of energy was invested in blackening the Government abroad," claiming his opponents portrayed Slovenia "as Belarus" or some other authoritarian country. The opposition parties said that talk of resignation just weeks before Slovenia took over European Union presidency was irresponsible and unwise, http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/13/europe/EU-POL-Slovenia-Elections-Cabinet.php Slovenia's PM: Cabinet might resign after opposition candidate elected president 2008-09-05 International Herald Tribune 13 November 2007 We will analyze the situation further, but all possibilities are open, including the resignation of the government," Jansa told reporters after a meeting of his center-right Cabinet. ... Jansa insisted that Tuerk's campaign "was directed entirely at settling accounts with the government." ... "It is particularly worrying that a lot of energy was invested in blackening the government abroad," Jansa said, claiming his opponents portrayed Slovenia "as Belarus" or some other authoritarian country. but the Prime Minister called a vote of confidence for 19 November 2007.http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/16/europe/EU-POL-Slovenia-Government.php Slovenian PM seeks confidence vote after opposition candidate became president 2008-09-05 International Herald Tribune 16 November 2007 17 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080217044808/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/16/europe/EU-POL-Slovenia-Government.php live The Government won the confidence vote, but support for the ruling SDS subsequently reached an all-time low, with only 18% of voters intending to vote for it in the fall 2008 election.http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1195512437.8 Slovenian government survives confidence vote 2008-09-05 EUbusiness.com 20 November 2007 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090819145327/http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1195512437.8 19 August 2009 Reactions to Türk's victory from international media were positive. The Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung described him as "more or less the ideal man for the job". http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/international/in_slowenien_setzt_sich_der_aussenseiter_tuerk_durch_1.583508.html In Slowenien setzt sich der Aussenseiter Türk durch 2008-09-16 Neue Zürcher Zeitung 12 November 2007 de 17 February 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080217040556/http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/international/in_slowenien_setzt_sich_der_aussenseiter_tuerk_durch_1.583508.html liveAls einer der wenigen slowenischen Politiker mit internationaler Bekanntheit galt er in Hinblick auf Sloweniens nahende EU-Präsidentschaft als Idealbesetzung. The media focused on the landslide victory that was perceived to be a severe defeat for Janša's centre-right coalition. http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/archives/news/world/20071111-slovenia-presidential-election-danilo-Turk-european-union.php Turk elected president of Slovenia 2008-09-16 France 24 11 November 2007 I'm very happy with the results as they appear now. I want to be a president who is uniting people. I believe that conditions here are such that people have a strong desire for something new," Turk told reporters after exit polls were shown. ... "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," he said. https://web.archive.org/web/20120312143506/http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/archives/news/world/20071111-slovenia-presidential-election-danilo-Turk-european-union.php 12 March 2012 dead http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gdT41sCQXeM3f0WLKGzFa6Qf984A Danilo Turk wins Slovenia presidential vote 2008-09-16 Agence France-Presse 11 November 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20110520111957/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gdT41sCQXeM3f0WLKGzFa6Qf984A 20 May 2011 dead Since the EU presidency was closing, Türk's diplomatic background was put forward. "Slovenia is your solid, faithful and credible partner. Rely on us, and we'll be a good president of the European Union next year," Türk said. Türk was also expected to maintain Slovenia's alliance with the United States even though he was highly critical of the war in Iraq, as Al Jazeera reported. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2007/11/2008525142946599747.html Ex-UN diplomat wins Slovenia polls 2008-09-16 Al Jazeera 12 November 2007 5 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110605024915/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2007/11/2008525142946599747.html live On 22 December, Türk was sworn in as the President of the Republic of Slovenia. In his inaugural address, he thanked his predecessor Janez Drnovšek for his contribution to success and respect of Slovenia. Later, he also stated that he would work closely with Janša's government during Slovenia's six-month EU presidency. http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=1&c_id=160710 Türk prisegel kot predsednik države 2008-09-09 Rtvslo.si 22 December 2007 sl 25 December 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071225105620/http://www.rtvslo.si/modload.php?&c_mod=rnews&op=sections&func=read&c_menu=1&c_id=160710 live Janez Drnovšek would die a little over three months after the election from kidney cancer on 23 February 2008, at the age of 57. Results Lojze Peterle Independent (NSi–SDS–SLS) 283412 318288 Danilo Türk Independent (SD–DeSUS–Z–AS) 241349 677333 Mitja Gaspari Independent (LDS) 237632 Zmago Jelinčič Plemeniti Slovenian National Party 188951 Darko Krajnc Youth Party of Slovenia 21526 Elena Pečarič Independent 8830 Monika Piberl Women's Voice of Slovenia sl Glas žensk Slovenije 4729 5279 9738 1720481 1720174 DVK Notes Note References External links https://archive.today/20110516173950/http://www.sloveniatimes.com/en/inside.cp2?uid=8917CA86-A2A9-103D-AD20-EDFDEB09223A&linkid=news&cid=BEAF1BF5-A047-2FFA-3BC2-D2EA2CC627CE/ Presidential Election - A November Surprise el Category:Presidential elections in Slovenia Slovenia Presidential election Slovenia Slovenia Category:November 2007 elections