Applications have been submitted by vice-governors Marko Bošnjak and Primož Dolenc, the latter in charge at Banka Slovenije since May after the office was vacated by Boštjan Jazbec, who left for a job on the EU's Single Resolution Board.

Former vice-governor Mejra Festić has applied for the job, her candidacy backed by several prominent bankers and economists, according to media reports.

Festić is currently a professor at the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Maribor, a job she took after she failed to get re-elected vice-governor in 2016 due to her prominent role in the bank bailout of 2013.

Benjamin Košar, the chairman of asset manager Triglav Skladi and former board member of insurer Zavarovalnica Triglav, is also among the applicants, as is Milan Martin Cvikl.

Cvikl is currently an alternate director at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), having previously served as member of the European Court of Auditors.

After an eight-year stint at the European institutions, his appointment would mark a return to Slovenia for the former Europe minister and member of parliament on the ticket of the Liberal Democrats (LDS).

The candidate for governor is nominated by President Borut Pahor, who launched the procedure to appoint a new governor at the end of April.

Now he has 30 days to send the nomination to parliament, yet he is at liberty to put forward a candidate who has not formally applied for the job.

Pahor's office has told the STA that the president will stick to the standard procedure of first consulting deputy group leaders.

Once he takes his pick, the candidate will present their vision for the central bank at a public event before their nomination is sent to the National Assembly.

An absolute majority, or 46 votes, is needed in the National Assembly.