Ljubljana - The ruling Freedom Movement has decided to back an independent candidate in the first round of the presidential election, a decision that comes on the heels of an appeal by the junior coalition partner, the Social Democrats (SD), that they should endorse their candidate.

Prime Minister Robert Golob, the president of the Freedom Movement, said on Thursday he has received the mandate from the party's council to conduct talks with all independent candidates. The final decision will be made by the council.

The news comes just hours after the SD confirmed MEP Milan Brglez as their candidate, the party having previously decided it would not enter the presidential race.

The Freedom Movement had its candidate, Marta Kos, but she has recently pulled out of the presidential race and resigned as party vice-president citing personal reasons.

Unofficial information from the ranks of the Freedom Movement indicate the party wants to talk to the candidates personally, not in a party-to-party format, and could back Brglez if he was not a party functionary.

But Brglez has little time to mount an independent bid since he would have to collect 5,000 voter signatures in less than two weeks to formally run as an independent.

The third coalition partner, the Left, has decided to field its own candidate, most likely one of their MPs, but leader Luka Mesec indicated today all options were still open.

He said he valued Brglez and would present him as such to the party's council, which will then decide how the party will enter the presidential election.