Šarec's bid was endorsed by 43 MPs from the Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), Social Democrats (SD), Modern Centre Party (SMC), Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) and the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS).
The five parties, which have been in talks on forming a minority government, expect that Šarec will also be backed by the nine MPs of the Left, which has been in talks with a quintet on project cooperation.
Provided he receives the support of the Left, which is to announce the result of an internal vote on the matter on Thursday, Šarec will have a sufficient majority to be elected PM-designate in parliament next week.
The deadline for the submission of bids for PM-designate in the second round of nomination process expires on Friday, but no other bid is expected.
Šarec already talked to President Borut Pahor today to formally brief him on the candidacy and discuss the government-formation procedures going forward.
The candidate needs to muster at least 46 votes in the 90-strong National Assembly to get appointed. The vote is expected to be held on 17 August.
If he secures an absolute majority in the secret ballot, he will need to submit his cabinet to parliament by 1 September with the vote on the team to take place between 11 and 14 September.
If Šarec fails to muster an absolute majority to be named prime minister, the president would have to dissolve parliament and call a fresh election, except if a new nomination attempt is made in the National Assembly within 48 hours after the failed vote.
In that round of nominations, which is possible but unlikely, a simple rather than absolute majority is needed to elect a prime minister. However, if the attempt fails a fresh general election is inevitable.
While Šarec currently enjoys the support of six parties, he is by no means a shoo-in. The Left is yet to announce the results of its internal referendum, while the SAB voiced serious concerns.
SAB is "actively considering not having ministers in a Marjan Šarec cabinet," the party's secretary general Jernej Pavlič told the press.
Pavlič said the party did not exclude the possibility of a project-based cooperation with a Šarec government, but this decision will be made by the party's council after Šarec is named PM-designate.
If endorsed, Šarec will become Slovenia's youngest prime-minister. A newcomer to national politics, Šarec served two terms as mayor of Kamnik before being elected MP in the 3 June election.
His party won 13 seats in parliament in the 3 June election, after Šarec nearly defeated the favoured incumbent Borut Pahor in the run-off of the 2017 presidential election with 46.9% of the vote.
An actor by profession, Šarec first made a name for himself as an imitator in radio and TV satire shows of personalities such as the late President Janez Drnovšek and Democrat (SDS) leader Janez Janša.
Šarec lives in a small village near the central town of Kamnik with his teacher wife and two daughters.
