On Monday, Slovenia’s President Nataša Pirc Musar called on the country’s political parties to initiate discussions on forming a new government as swiftly as possible. The recent parliamentary election concluded without a clear victor, leaving the leading parties in a tight contest. This election is pivotal, as it could determine whether Slovenia continues to uphold its democratic welfare-state status or shifts toward illiberal governance.
Preliminary results indicate that Prime Minister Robert Golob‘s liberal Freedom Movement (GS) attained 29 seats in the 90-member assembly, while the opposition right-wing Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) secured 28 seats, based on 99.85% of votes counted by state election authorities. This result leaves no party with a definitive majority of 46 seats, meaning future governance will hinge on collaborations with smaller parties that have become key players following the election.
Among the ruling coalition parties, the Social Democrats received 6.71% of the vote and acquired 6 parliamentary seats, and Levica achieved 5.58% and secured 5 seats. On the conservative spectrum, the New Slovenia – Christian Democrats (NSi) garnered 9.29% of the vote, securing 9 seats. Additionally, two smaller parties which could influence the government talks, the centre-right Democrats, led by Anže Logar, received 6.69% and elected 6 members of parliament, while the anti-vaccination right-wing populist party Resni.ca, led by Zoran Stevanović, achieved 5.52% and won 5 seats. The potential for alliances among these parties is still uncertain.
In her statement following the election results, President Musar offered her congratulations, saying, “I extend heartfelt congratulations to the Freedom Movement, the relative winner of the elections. I have already reached out to the party president, Dr Robert Golob, to convey my personal congratulations. I also wish to express my gratitude to the many voters who participated in significant numbers and to all other parties that successfully entered parliament.” She emphasised the importance of promptly convening for negotiations, stating, “I call upon all parties to engage in discussions as soon as possible.”
The outcome of Sunday’s vote is seen as a crucial indicator of whether Slovenia will continue its commitment to liberal principles or lean towards more conservative policies. The closely contested results reflect deep divisions among Slovenia’s voters. Golob’s administration has positioned itself as a strong advocate for liberal values within the 27-member European Union. In contrast, SDS leader Janez Janša, known for his populist approach, is a close ally of the far-right Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. His potential return to power could strengthen right-wing movements across Europe and challenge the tenets of Slovenian democracy.
In response to the results, Golob expressed appreciation for the voter support, affirming, “We have remained the leading party.” He acknowledged that “tough weeks lie ahead” as he seeks to build consensus among parliamentary parties. Janša remarked that his party is not inclined to pursue the formation of a weak coalition government, noting, “The current balance of political powers, as observed, will likely not offer much stability.”
The electoral process faced serious allegations of corruption and concerns about foreign interference. A parliamentary inquiry report has accused the conservative parties, SDS and NSi, of diverting public and private funds into media and political structures to benefit their interests during former Prime Minister Janša’s tenure from 2020 to 2022.
Additionally, concerns about foreign interference have emerged after reports of Janša meeting with officials from the Israeli private intelligence firm Black Cube, which he confirmed while denying any wrongdoing.
