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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Tuerk leads in Slovenia elections | Tuerk leads in Slovenia elections |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Leftist former diplomat Danilo Tuerk is set to become Slovenia's new president, as preliminary results suggest he has a huge lead over his centre-right rival. | Leftist former diplomat Danilo Tuerk is set to become Slovenia's new president, as preliminary results suggest he has a huge lead over his centre-right rival. |
| Former prime minister Lojze Peterle conceded after exit polls showed Mr Tuerk getting almost 70% of the vote. | Former prime minister Lojze Peterle conceded after exit polls showed Mr Tuerk getting almost 70% of the vote. |
| Mr Peterle - who helped lead Slovenia to independence from Yugoslavia - was well behind despite topping a first-round vote last month. | Mr Peterle - who helped lead Slovenia to independence from Yugoslavia - was well behind despite topping a first-round vote last month. |
| Mr Tuerk, 55, was backed by the main left-wing opposition parties. | Mr Tuerk, 55, was backed by the main left-wing opposition parties. |
| Mr Peterle had the support of the governing centre-right coalition. | Mr Peterle had the support of the governing centre-right coalition. |
| But the 59-year-old did not secure enough support to win outright in October, and has since fallen behind in the polls. | But the 59-year-old did not secure enough support to win outright in October, and has since fallen behind in the polls. |
| Mr Peterle conceded almost immediately. "I expected a better result," he said. | Mr Peterle conceded almost immediately. "I expected a better result," he said. |
| "I sincerely congratulate Danilo Tuerk on his victory. I wish him good luck in leading the country in the challenging times ahead of us." | |
| Analysts say his defeat will come as a new blow for the administration after its poor performance in local elections last year. | Analysts say his defeat will come as a new blow for the administration after its poor performance in local elections last year. |
| Mr Tuerk is a long-time diplomat who gained a clear lead over his rival since he gathered support from backers of a leftist candidate who lost last month. | Mr Tuerk is a long-time diplomat who gained a clear lead over his rival since he gathered support from backers of a leftist candidate who lost last month. |
| He said he was "very pleased with the results that are being forecast", although he pointed out they were not final. | He said he was "very pleased with the results that are being forecast", although he pointed out they were not final. |
| "I believe the situation here is such that many citizens want something new, that wish is very strong and the campaign has been proving that wish all along," he added. | "I believe the situation here is such that many citizens want something new, that wish is very strong and the campaign has been proving that wish all along," he added. |
| Mr Tuerk looks set to follow two other centre-left presidents - Milan Kucan, who served two terms from 1992 to 2002, and outgoing President Janez Drnovsek, who decided not to seek a second five-year term. | Mr Tuerk looks set to follow two other centre-left presidents - Milan Kucan, who served two terms from 1992 to 2002, and outgoing President Janez Drnovsek, who decided not to seek a second five-year term. |
| Mr Tuerk is not expected to change the alliances of the ex-communist state of two million people with Europe and Washington. | Mr Tuerk is not expected to change the alliances of the ex-communist state of two million people with Europe and Washington. |
| The role of president is largely ceremonial, but carries authority in defence and foreign affairs. | The role of president is largely ceremonial, but carries authority in defence and foreign affairs. |
| The new president will be sworn in shortly before Slovenia assumes the EU presidency on 1 January. | The new president will be sworn in shortly before Slovenia assumes the EU presidency on 1 January. |