LJUBLJANA, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Slovenian Parliament on Friday appointed Marjan Sarec, 40-year-old former comedian and mayor whose party came second in the June 3 election, as prime minister designate.
According to the Slovenian Press Agency STA, the political novice on the national stage, who is forming a minority government consisting of five center-left parties supported by the Left, was backed in a 55-31 vote of the parliament.
"Irrespective of who voted for me today and who voted against, all can rest assured that I will be working for the benefit of everyone," Sarec was quoted by STA as he was sworn in.
Sarec, whose LMS came second in the June 3 general election, had told MPs before Friday's vote that he had the courage and perseverance needed for the challenges ahead.
"Instead of unnecessary words, one should simply get down to business. It is this perseverance possessed by the future new prime minister that the Slovenian political arena lacks," said the 40-year-old.
The 9th and youngest Slovenian prime minister needs to put forward a list of candidates for the ministerial posts by September 3.
A vote on the candidates is scheduled in parliament for mid-September. If he manages to form a government this will be Slovenia's 13th government, according to STA.
Sarec is a former actor and comedian who became Kamnik mayor in 2010 and shot to political fame as he nearly defeated current Slovenian president Borut Pahor in the run-off of the 2017 presidential election with 46.9 percent of the vote.
Pahor congratulated Sarec on his appointment on Friday, according to the STA report.
