- Title: SLOVENIA: VOTERS GO TO THE POLLS TO ELECT NEW PRESIDENT
- Date: 10th November 2002
- Summary: (EU) LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA (NOVEMBER 10, 2002) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 1. VIEW OF LJUBLJANA FORTRESS 0.05 2. WIDE OF FORTRESS TOWER WITH SLOVENIAN FLAG 0.10 3. WIDE OF PEOPLE WALKING IN SQUARE, AUDIO OF CHURCH BELLS 0.17 4. SLV PEOPLE BUYING ROASTED CHESTNUTS 0.23 5. WIDE OF HOUSES BY RIVER 0.27 6. PAN OF STREET WITH ELECTION POSTERS 0.38 7. CLOSE OF POSTER FEATURING JANEZ DRNOVSEK 0.43 8. CLOSE OF POSTER FEATURING BARBARA BREZIGAR 0.48 9. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE INSIDE POLLING STATION, VOTING (5 SHOTS) 1.09 10. VARIOUS, WOMAN SITTING AT POLLING BOOTH, VOTING AND PUTTING BALLOT PAPER IN BOX (3 SHOTS) 1.25 11. VARIOUS, WOMEN PUTTING BALLOT PAPERS IN BOX 1.32 12. SMV OF OUTGOING PRESIDENT MILAN KUCAN INSIDE POLLING STATION AND SHAKING HANDS WITH ELECTION OFFICIALS 1.45 13. VARIOUS, KUCAN VOTING (3 SHOTS) 1.56 14. SLV MILAN KUCAN LEAVING POLLING STATION 2.02 15. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Slovenian) MILAN KUCAN ANSWERING QUESTION IF HE IS GOING TO BE SORRY ONCE HE IS NOT PRESIDENT ANYMORE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS (AUDIO OF QUESTION), KUCAN SAYING: "No, no I will not regret. It should be pretty pleasant actually." 2.10 16. SLV MILAN KUCAN AND WIFE STEFKA WALKING AWAY FROM POLLING STATION, WAVING 2.20 17. VARIOUS, JANEZ DRNOVSEK REGISTERING AND VOTING (6 SHOTS) 2.48 18. WIDE OF PEOPLE STANDING OUTSIDE POLLING STATION 2.53 19. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Slovenian) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JANEZ DRNOVSEK SAYING: "I plan to remain in my post as head of the government for the Copenhagen meeting and to finalise admission talks for the European union. So, no problem if there is a second round, we are not going to be taken by surprise." 3.09 20. SLV DRNOVSEK WALKING AWAY 3.19 21. SLV , PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BARBARA BREZIGAR INSIDE POLLING STATION, REGISTERING 3.25 22. BARBARA BREZIGAR CASTING BALLOT (3 SHOTS) 3.38 23. SLV BREZIGAR WALKING AWAY FROM POLLING STATION 3.44 24. VARIOUS, LJUBLJANA WITH ALPS IN BACKGROUND 3.56 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 25th November 2002 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA
- Country: Slovenia
- Reuters ID: LVAN1IGXGVBFDXIE8HOAQD36A3C
- Story Text: Slovenians went to the polls on Sunday to elect a new
president as Milan Kucan, who led Slovenia to independence, is
stepping down after more then a decade in office.
The retirement of Milan Kucan, the man who led the
country to independence from Yugoslavia and who was credited
as founder of a democratic, multiparty system in the country,
will mark the end of an era for the tiny Alpine state.
Asked at the polling station if he would miss being
president after all those years in office, Kucan said: "No, no
I will not regret. It should be pretty pleasant actually."
Current Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek is given the
greatest chance of winning in pre-vote polls with a lead of
some 10 to 15 percent over his nearest challenger Barbara
Brezigar. Speaking outside the polling station after
casting his vote, Drnovsek said: "I plan to remain in my post
as head of the government for the Copenhagen meeting and to
finalise admission talks for the European union. So, no
problem if there is a second round, we are not going to be
taken by surprise."
Prime Minister with only a short six-month break since
1992, Drnovsek is credited with leading the country swiftly
into Western organisations and securing its position in the
group of countries joining the EU in 2004. Slovenia is the
only former Yugoslav republic to join in this round of EU
enlargement.
Barbara Brezigar is a former state prosecutor who built her
reputation fighting organised crime and corruption.
None of the other seven candidates are expected to win
more than five percent of the vote.
About 1.6 million people are registered to vote and
surveys indicate a turnout of about 75 percent.
Polling stations opened at 0600 GMT this morning (November
10) and will close at 1800
GMT. First results are expected at 2000 gmt.
In the event that none of the candidates receives more
than 50 percent in the first round, a second run-off election
will be held on December 1.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
