May 25, 10:38 AM
Right-Wing Nationalist Janez Janša Returns as Slovenia's Prime Minister
Fourth term for conservative leader as parliament votes 51 to 36 to approve new minority government backed by pro-Russian populist group.
Slovenia's parliament has elected conservative politician Janez Janša as the country's new prime minister. The vote was 51 in favor and 36 against, according to the STA news agency. The result marks the end of the center-left government led by Robert Golob.
Janša plans to form a minority government with his Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) and other right-wing parties. That government would receive external support from the populist, pro-Russian group Resnica, whose name translates to "Truth." During Friday's parliamentary session, protests took place in the capital, Ljubljana.
In a speech before the vote, Janša stated that he would pursue decentralization, reduce bureaucracy, and fight corruption. The coalition's government program includes tax relief, a halt to funding for non-governmental organizations, and measures against migration. Two additional proposals have drawn particular attention: drug tests for civil servants and a ban on mobile phones in schools.
A campaign scandal has also made headlines. Janša is suspected of having worked with the Israeli private intelligence firm Black Cube to stir up sentiment against the previous government. According to the allegations, edited video clips were used to create an impression of corruption. The outgoing prime minister, Robert Golob, has accused Janša of betraying the country.
Golob's center-left government led the country for the past four years. Golob's Freedom Movement (GS) narrowly won the parliamentary election in March ahead of Janša's SDS, but the party was unable to secure a majority together with its previous center-left coalition partners.
This will be Janša's fourth term as prime minister. He previously led the country from 2004 to 2008, from 2012 to 2013, and from 2020 to 2022. His previous terms were overshadowed by corruption scandals and attacks against independent media and dissenting voices, and each ended with his removal from office. In the past, Janša has drawn attention for making threats against media outlets, civil organizations, and trade unions.
Written by Andreas Hofer
