By STA
Lawyer Nataša Pirc Musar, best known in her former role as information commissioner, has announced she will enter the presidential race in the autumn election as an independent, becoming the first candidate to formally announce her bid.
“For several years I’ve had this desire to do something in Slovenian society and politics and the role of president would fit like a glove,” she told the press on Thursday.
“I’ve done a lot in life and am currently at the peak of my powers. I’m 54 years old, I may as well do something for Slovenia,” the self-described liberal said.
Pirc Musar, who has long had a prominent presence in the media and on social media as a commentator of current affairs, is convinced that the president of the republic must state their opinion “loud an clear,” in particular in difficult times.
She says she had been invited to enter politics on several occasions in the past but does not see herself in the executive branch given the need to “make rotten compromises.”
Given that she has worked her whole life on human rights and the foundations of the rule of law, she thinks the presidential office is a great fit.
To run as an independent, Pirc Musar must collect 5,000 voter signatures. While she plans to formally run as an independent in any case, she says she is not averse to discussing receiving support from political parties.
Her candidacy has so far been backed by more than a dozen individuals, including former presidents Milan Kučan and Danilo Türk.
Holding a degree in law, Pirc Musar started her career in TV and worked as a journalist and news anchor for more than a decade.
She briefly did PR in the corporate sector and the public sector between 2001 and 2004, when she was elected Information Commissioner, a position she held for two terms.
In 2014 she became an attorney at law and has had her own law firm since.
While Pirc Musar is the first person to announce a run for the presidency, the ruling Freedom Movement have tentatively picked their candidate as well, former diplomat Marta Kos.
Media have mentioned several other potential candidates in recent days, including Miro Cerar, a former prime minister, and Ivo Vajgl, a former foreign minister.
The incumbent, Borut Pahor, is term-limited.