Slovenia: eccentric bows out

Slovenia's current president, Janez Drnovsek, is something of an eccentric. He writes books on the simple life from his hilltop home, is a vegan, and bakes his own bread. In his blog posts, he refers to his political opponents as 'princes of dark' and himself as 'prince of light'.

But Drnovsek is not standing in this Sunday's presidential election, which will come as relief to those of a conservative persuasion: the president is loved by some but an embarrassment to others. Crueller princes of dark may say Drnovsek's departure comes just in time for Slovenia's assumption of the rotating EU presidency in January. 

Who will be Drnovsek's successor?  Opinion polls suggest a victory for Danilo Tuerk, an ex-communist former UN diplomat who is now a law professor. Tuerk lost the first round on October 21 to harmonica-playing Christian Democrat Lojze Peterle, a political veteran. Running as an independent, Peterle has support from parties in the centre-right government. But the leftist opposition backs Tuerk, and those who voted for third-placed Mitja Gaspari are expected to go over to him. Popular disaffection with government policies is an albatross around Peterle's neck; his likely defeat may presage a turn to the left in next year's parliamentary elections. 

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