Parliamentary Elections in Slovenia

Experts analyse the situation in Slovenia

On March 22, Slovenia will elect a new parliament. Although the opposition right-conservative Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) is leading in the polls, a return of Janez Janša to the office of prime minister is by no means certain. The liberal and left-wing parties of the current government are expected to suffer losses, but they could remain in power if the new parties that have a chance of entering parliament refuse to form a coalition with the SDS.

Several new parties are running—both on the left and the right—and could play a decisive role in the formation of the next government. The central question of the election is whether Janša can once again become prime minister. Left and liberal parties are mobilising against this possibility—but it is uncertain whether a purely negative campaign will be sufficient.

Although the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), a member of the European People’s Party, positions itself clearly as pro-Ukraine and pro-Atlantic in foreign policy, the elections could also strengthen more radical forces and shift Slovenia’s political landscape further to the right.

The event will analyse the work of the current center-left coalition and discuss what impact a possible change of government in Ljubljana could have on the region and on the European Union.

Welcome

Gerhard Marchl
Karl-Renner-Institut, Vienna

Briefing and moderation

Péter Techet
Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM), Vienna

Panelists

Metka Majer
Pop TV, Ljubljana

Manca Grgić Renko
University of Vienna, Vienna/Ljubljana

Marko Zajc
Institute for Contemporary History, Ljubljana

The discussion is organised in cooperation with the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM) and Campus Tivoli.