Contrary to all election forecasts, exit polls show that in Slovenia's early parliamentary election on Sunday the most votes have been won by the Positive Slovenia party of Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Jankovic, instead of the expected winner, the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) of former Prime Minister Janez Jansa.
According to the results of exit polls released shortly after 2000 hours by the Slovenian national broadcaster, Jankovic's party has won 29 percent of the vote, and Jansa's 27 percent. They are followed by the Social Democrats (SD) of incumbent Prime Minister Borut Pahor with 11 percent of the vote. Judging by exit polls, four more parties are to enter the new parliament - the Civic List of Gregor Virant (9%), the Democratic Party of Pensioners (7%), the Slovenian Popular Party (6.4%) and the New Slovenia party (4.7%).
Commenting on the exit polls, Jankovic said that citizens had opted for "a democratic but efficient government."
It is expected that by midnight 99 percent of votes will be counted, and the state election commission will release on its web site unofficial election results on the basis of close to 100 percent of counted votes. The official election results will be made known on December 16.
