LJUBLJANA — Slovenia’s parliament on Friday approved right-leaning politician Janez Janša as prime minister-designate, ending a political stalemate after the March election and setting the stage for a centre-right administration focused on tax cuts, business reforms and pension financing changes.
Janša, who is seeking a fourth term, won 51 votes in the 90-seat assembly. His Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) finished second in the March 22 vote with 28 seats, behind the liberal Freedom Movement (GS) of former prime minister Robert Golob, which took 29 seats. Golob’s party moved into opposition after failing to form a governing coalition.
The new five-party coalition, comprising SDS, New Slovenia, the Democrats, the Slovenian People’s Party and Focus, signed a coalition agreement this week. Although the bloc holds 43 parliamentary seats, it secured the necessary backing from the right-wing Resnica party, which will not formally join the government, and support from deputies representing national minorities.
The coalition’s priorities include tax relief for businesses and households, measures to support startups and high-growth companies, reduced bureaucracy, anti-corruption efforts, and greater devolution of powers to local governments. It also plans to establish a fund aimed at shoring up pension system financing.
“Our goal is Slovenia as a highly developed, competitive, and socially cohesive state based on knowledge, innovation, fairness, and quality of life,” Janša told lawmakers after his confirmation.
The approval ends weeks of uncertainty following the inconclusive election and moves Slovenia toward the centre-right policy agenda endorsed by the coalition partners.