Slovenia's parliament approves right-wing Janez Jansa as prime minister

Slovenia’s parliament voted 51-36 to appoint right-wing politician Janez Jansa as prime minister, reversing a period led by a liberal government. Jansa must return to parliament within 15 days for another vote to confirm his future cabinet. The appointment ends a post-election stalemate after a two-month-old vote produced a tie, leaving former liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob’s Freedom Movement unable to secure a majority. Jansa and the Slovenian Democratic Party signed a coalition agreement with several center-right groups, giving the coalition 43 seats. The coalition includes SDS, New Slovenia, Democrats, the Slovenian People’s Party, and Focus, with additional support from the Resnica party. Jansa outlined goals focused on the economy, reducing corruption and bureaucracy, and decentralisation, while promising lower taxes for the rich and support for private education and healthcare.

"Slovenia's parliament has voted to bring back right-wing politician Janez Jansa as prime minister, after his last stint in power ended in 2022. Legislators in the 90-member assembly voted 51-36 for Jansa on Friday marking a shift for the small European Union country recently run by a liberal government. Jansa will need to return to parliament within the next 15 days for another vote to confirm his future Cabinet."

"His appointment concludes a post-election stalemate after the vote two months ago ended in a tie when former liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob's Freedom Movement was unable to create a parliamentary majority by only securing a thin margin. On Thursday, Jansa and his populist Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) signed a coalition agreement with several centre-right groups to form a new government, which now holds 43 seats in the assembly."

"It will be the fourth time 67-year-old Jansa has been in office. He was the country's leader from 2004 to 2008, 2012 to 2013 and 2020 to 2022. In the March 22 elections, the SDS came second with 28 seats, behind Golob's Freedom Movement, which secured 29 seats. The new coalition government is made up of the SDS, New Slovenia, Democrats, the Slovenian People's Party and Focus."

"In a speech laying out the government's future goals, Jansa listed the economy, the fight against corruption and red tape, and decentralisation. He also promised to lower taxes for the rich and support private education and healthcare. Earlier this month, Jansa told reporters that the coalition would ensure a cheaper state but with better quality."

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