Ljubljana - Kočevje Mayor Vladimir Prebilič, backed by the non-parliamentary green party Vesna and voter signatures, officially joined the presidential election race on Tuesday. The defence expert's campaign will focus on sustainable development, the young, the need to decentralise the country and prevent the dismantling of public systems.

Prebilič told the press that the young were often excluded from political decision making and also that the "silent centralisation" of Slovenia needed to end.

The mayor of Kočevje, who served as an adviser to current President Borut Pahor and former President Danilo Türk in the past, is moreover worried about the trends in healthcare, education and national security.

Also on hand was Urška Zgojnik of the new green party Vesna who described Prebilič as "a man of integrity and experience at the local level" where green policies also begin.

Prebilič meanwhile argued that his insight into the geopolitical situation abroad, a key prerequisite for the post, is what makes him stand apart from other presidential candidates the most.

Commenting on Ukraine, he said there was too much talk about how to conduct war and "no conversation whatsoever about peace", although Europe is meant to be committed to peace.

Prebilič added that the issues he stands for are above party politics and that he is not burdened by the past or ideological divisions.

Prebilič was in fourth place in a poll published by the newspapers Dnevnik and Večer on Monday. The poll, which had former foreign minister Anže Logar and ex-information commissioner Nataša Pirc Musar standing out as clear favourites, gave him 3.5% support.