Voting begins in Slovenia presidential election

By Lejla Biogradlija

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AA) - Slovenians started voting early Sunday in the presidential election, which incumbent President Borut Pahor is favorite to win.

Some 1.7 million registered voters will choose among nine candidates, five of whom are women.

Pahor, 53, a long-time Social Democrat and former Slovenian prime minister, has been head of state since 2012. He announced his intention to seek a second term in December 2016.

Mayor of the town of Kamnik -- in the central northern part of the country -- and former actor Marjan Sarec is thought to be Pahro's strongest challenger with opposition New Slovenia leader Ljudmila Novak in third. Milan Jazbec, a diplomat is also running as an independent.

Certain opinion polls have estimated that Pahor will win over 55 percent of the vote, thus preventing a run-off.

Voting will continue until 8 p.m. (1800GMT) and an unofficial result is expected to be announced before Sunday midnight.

In the case no candidate receives 50 percent, a run-off election between the top two candidates would be held on Nov. 12.

Sunday's presidential is the sixth one since the country's independence in 1991.

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