Slovenia EU voting begun

Early voting in the European Parliamentary elections has begun in Slovenia, at designated polling stations. The main voting day is this Sunday, the same as for two thirds of the European Union Member States.

Slovenia is the only former Yugoslav republic in the EU. It joined in 2004 and then became the first of the former-communist new members to adopt the euro. In that year’s elections fewer than one in three Slovenes voted. A TNS survey estimates 44 percent voter turnout.

One early voter said: “I think these elections are important, and if you want to criticize, you have to vote first.”

That remark shows the customary voter judging political parties’ performance.

Certain opinion surveys put the opposition democrat (SDS) conservatives comfortably in the lead, others not, reflecting a stiff test for the ruling Social Democrats (SD). The New Slovenia party and Zares are next in line. They are the main contenders for Slovenia’s seven seats in the European Parliament.

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tags: European elections, European Union, Slovenia