A newcomer to the political scene, Miro Cerar led his party to victory in early parliamentary elections in Slovenia, promising to overhaul a package of reforms agreed with the EU to fix the country's troubled finances.
Such a result will be a test for the nerves of investors, given Cerar's opposition to the privatization of some of the large state-owned companies, which the EU claims is of key importance for the long-term improvement of the situation in Slovenia, which narrowly avoided asking for an international rescue of its banks last year.
The first unofficial results and exit polls predict the victory of this 50-year-old law professor, the son of a famous gymnast, one of the greatest Slovenian athletes.
His late mother was a prominent politician. Mir Cerara's party (CMS), founded only 6 weeks ago, won 36,9 percent of the vote, which is far ahead of Janez Janša's Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), which received 19,2 percent of support.
"The result is really good, it shows that people have chosen to adhere to a different political culture that will not be disruptive and that will bring a way out of the crisis," said Cerar.
The new cabinet is likely to delay or stop many reforms, but there will be anti-corruption initiatives
Analysts expect Cerar's government to be supported by a number of smaller left-of-center parties that passed the census - the Democratic Party of pensioner Karel Erjavec (9,7%), the United Left (7,1%), the Social Democratic Party of Dejan Židan (5,8%). .
The parties Nova Slovenija (5,4%) and the party of Alenka Bratušek, the former prime minister, also crossed the electoral threshold.
"The most likely scenario is that the center-left will take over and the next cabinet will delay or stop many reforms necessary to fix state finances," said Cveta Petrova from the Eurasian Group. "However, the country may witness some anti-corruption initiatives."
SMC's success is an indication that voters have punished traditional parties rocked by corruption scandals and years of economic woes in the country.
Slovenia is now working to implement a set of crisis measures agreed with the EU to reduce the budget deficit and reorganize an economy that is over-controlled by the state.
Cerar, however, opposes the sale of Telekom Slovenije and the international airport in Ljubljana.
"Our party will strive for Slovenia to fulfill its obligations towards the EU, but we will look for our own ways to achieve those goals, in the way that is best for Slovenia," Cerar told Reuters.
"I will do my best to have our privatization program ready this year. It will be one of the priorities of our government".
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
