The secret ballot - 90 MPs will probably have the option to chose between outgoing PM Borut Pahor as the candidate of the SocDems and election winner Positive Slovenia candidate Maša Kociper - requires 46 votes for appointment and will thus remain without the 26 votes of the SDS.

Of the remaining parties only the People's Party (SLS), which holds 6 seats, unequivocally stated their pick, choosing Pahor.

The Citizens' List of Gregor Virant, which has 8 MPs, feels more inclined to vote for Pahor, as do the 4 MPs of New Slovenia (NSi), although NSi president Ljudmila Novak feels excited about Kociper becoming the first female speaker.

The sentiments of the Pensioners Party (DeSUS), who might put forward their president Karl Erjavec as the third candidate, are not clear.

DeSUS has 6 MPs, Positive Slovenia 28 and the SocDems 10.

In the event that there is more than one candidate for parliamentary speaker, deputies will vote on all of them simultaneously, with the post going to the one getting the most votes.