Slovenian President Pahor sworn in for second term

LJUBLJANA, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Slovenian President Borut Pahor was sowrn in at the National Assembly on Friday and will formally start his second five-year term on Saturday, the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) reported.

Securing 53 percent of the vote on a record low turnout of just 42 percent, Pahor, 54, was re-elected on Nov. 12 in a run-off defeating his challenger, Marjan sarec, the mayor of Kamnik in a neck-and-neck race.

"I would like everyone to be proud of me and our country ... I will strive so that everyone is proud of our beloved homeland, the beautiful Slovenia," he said in his inaugural address.

Pahor said the guiding line of his actions would be the notion that "there is much more dividing us than there is separating us," echoing his focus on reconciliation over post-WWII divisions in his first term.

He said reforms were needed if Slovenia is to preserve its welfare state, saying that "the best economic policy is essentially the best social policy."

Pahor was sworn in at a special National Assembly session that also honored the Dec. 26 Independence and Unity Day, said the STA report.

The session featured senior officials including Prime Minister Miro Cerar and his cabinet, as well as senior civil servants, former officials and members of the diplomatic corps. Enditem