Janez Jansa, the leader of the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), was voted as the new Prime Minister-Designate by the 90-seat parliament at its extraordinary session on Saturday when 51 MPs voted for his appointment and 39 against in a secret ballot.
Jansa, 53, who was at the helm of the Slovenian government from 2004 to 2008, said that his cabinet would likely be formed by 10 February.
In his speech Jansa pointed to the economic recovery on sound foundations and no more borrowing as priorities of his government.
He said that Slovenia should enhance its competitiveness and encourage entrepreneurship and education with opening of new jobs.
Jansa vowed to radically reduce state spending and budget deficit.
This past Wednesday, five parliamentary parties, including Jansa's SDS, signed a coalition agreement stipulating that Jansa should be proposed as a new Prime Minister-Designate at the parliament's meeting convened for Saturday.
Jansa's nomination by the five parties came after the nomination of Zoran Jankovic of Positive Slovenia, the election's winner which has 28 seats in the 90-seat parliament, two more than the SDS, was not supported by at least 46 members of parliament a fortnight ago.
The coalition agreement with the SDS was signed by the Civic List whose leader Gregor Virant is the Parliament Speaker, the Slovenian Popular Party (SLS), the New Slovenia party and the DESUS party of pensioners.
Jansa was the only candidate in the parliament's second attempt to appoint the country's premier-designate after President Danilo Tuerk decided not to put forward his proposal.
Addressing a news conference in Ljubljana last Wednesday Tuerk said that the move of the five parliamentary parties to propose their candidate for the PM-Designate was in accordance with the law and the constitution.
However, Tuerk said that he didn't deem Jansa a legitimate candidate, as he was one of several indictees standing trial for alleged wrongdoings, including bribery, in the purchase of tanks from the Finnish Patria company.
After the 4 December elections Tuerk proposed Ljubljana Mayor Jankovic for the PM-designate, but he failed to secure the necessary 46 votes in the parliament.
The Social Democrats of the outgoing PM Borut Pahor and MPs from Jankovic's Positive Slovenia, who voted against Jansa's nomination, said they would be firm but fair Opposition.
