Ljubljana - Slovenia's Social Democrats won parliamentary elections by a one-seat margin, election officials confirmed Monday, clearing the way for a new government in the small European Union nation. Prime Minister Janez Jansa's conservative Slovenian Democrats had refused to concede defeat after the September 21 voting, but after absentee votes were counted Monday they signalled they would not challenge the outcome.
Social Democratic leader Borut Pahor, 44, a European Parliament member, was expected to head a new centre-left government including at least three coalition partners.
His party won 30.5 per cent of the vote and 29 seats in the 90- seat parliament, while Jansa's centre-right group won 29.3 per cent, or 28 seats.
Among smaller parties, the liberal ZARES won nine seats, the DeSUS party representing pensioners claimed seven, while the National Party (SNS), the People's Party (SLS) and Liberal Democrats each won five seats. All of the smaller parties figure as possible coalition partners, local analysts say. The remaining two seats were reserved by law for representatives of the Italian and Hungarian minorities.
Many analysts believe Jansa's combative style and late-breaking corruption allegations - which he strongly rejected - helped his opponent.
Slovenia, sandwiched between the Alps and the Adriatic, was the richest part of former Yugoslavia and won its independence in a 10- day war in 1991.
It joined the EU in 2004 and is the only former communist country to switch to the euro, although the changeover ignited inflation and triggered widespread discontent.
