The party's executive committee also decided on Monday that MP Novak, 59, will be followed by another MP Jožef Horvat, the deputy group leader.

Lojze Peterle, the party's only MEP, who has been serving since Slovenia took part in the first EU elections in 2004, was placed on spot No. 3.

Today's decision, announced on Twitter by party leader Matej Tonin, put an end to speculation whether Novak would top the party's slate.

This is after it became clear at the end of January that Peterle would not be entrusted with the first spot on the list of candidates.

When announcing Peterle would not be the frontrunner, Tonin said he would have to reconcile it was OK if he tried to win a new term from some other than the first spot after serving three terms in the European Parliament.

Tonin also said at the time that the first-placed candidate would be a well-known and competent person.

The list of candidates also features MP Iva Dimic, Mojca Erjavec, who stood for Slovenian parliament in 2018, and Katja Berk Bevc, a member of the party's youth wing's executive committee.

Lists of candidates in Slovenia can features up to eight candidates, as many as the country has MEPs in the EU parliament.

Tonin has already announced he would add two more names to it from the civil society. Former Education Minister Žiga Turk has been mentioned as one of the possible candidates.