He will meet representatives of the Democratic Party (SDS), Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), Modern Centre Party (SMC), Left and Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) today.

Tomorrow, he will meet representatives of the Social Democrats (SD), New Slovenia (NSi), Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB), National Party (SNS) and the minority MPs.

The president received five bids before the 20 August deadline for applications, and will nominate his pick by 19 September, his office said.

Banka Slovenije has been run by Deputy Governor Primož Dolenc since May after Boštjan Jazbec left the post prematurely for a job on the EU's Single Resolution Board.

Vying for the post are vice-governors Dolenc and Marko Bošnjak, former vice-governor Mejra Festić, asset manager Triglav Skladi chairman Benjamin Jošar and Milan Martin Cvikl, an alternate director at the EBRD.

But the president is not obliged to nominate one of the candidates that have formally applied for the job. He is at liberty to put forward a candidate he thinks would best suit the post.

However, Pahor's office told the STA last month that the president would 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, where an absolute majority, or 46 votes, is needed for appointment.

When the fives candidates were revealed in August, the newspaper Delo said "the prestigious and well-paid job at Banka Slovenije has attracted 'only' five candidates".

It also said that "pundits are somehow surprised that SID Bank chairman Sibil Svilan, who has been considered one of the heavy-weights for the post, is not among them".

Delo also stressed it was high time for Slovenia to get a capable governor able to connect people and promote the country's interest before the ECB.

None of the five candidates is an apparent favourite to win the post, said Delo, adding that the new governor should be an experienced banker.

Jazbec was the fourth Banka Slovenije governor after France Arhar (1991-2001), Mitja Gaspari (2001-2007) and Marko Kranjc (2007-2013). He was the first to end the six-year term prematurely.

His tenure was marked by a multi-billion euro bank bailout ordered by the EU in late 2013 amid a severe economic and financial crisis.