Slovenia votes: another term for Janez Janša?

Slovenia elects a new parliament on Sunday. Critics accuse the incumbent right-wing nationalist prime minister, Janez Janša of the Slovenska Demokratska party, of increasingly adopting the authoritarian approach of his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orbán. The most promising opponent is Robert Golob of the left-liberal green party Gibanje Svoboda, founded in 2021. For commentators, the stakes are high in this election.

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Večer (SI) /

A make-or-break election

According to the latest surveys voter turnout will be high - but unfortunately not for a good reason, Večer points out:

“There is no question of a democratic deficit this time, because according to forecasts voter turnout could reach 70 percent or more. Less pleasing, however, are the reasons why voters have already flocked to the polls this week and why many have rediscovered (or even discovered for the first time) the power of democracy. Slovenian society is at a crossroads and highly polarised; voters suspect that this time there is more at stake - perhaps even the fate of the state and society itself.”

Dnevnik (SI) /

Slovenians know what is at stake

Dnevnik is banking on voters being sensible:

“In the last 32 years Slovenian voters have always voted wisely, 'correctly' and sensibly. The voters can't be accused of ever having truly 'erred' - not even in 2004, when they first handed power to Janez Janša. ... Every time things get really serious, the Slovenian people realise what is at stake and vote with respect to the historic moment. The early voting this time shows that appropriate numbers of voters are reacting. If we do not use the opportunity to vote 'wisely' this time, we will lose any right to complain that Slovenia has lost its way.”