Page 26 - SE Outlook Regions 2023

1.11 Politics - Slovenia

Slovenia ended 2022 with a series of elections which changed the
political landscape in the country. 2023 is expected to be more tranquil
in political terms and the government of PM Robert Golob, who came to
power in June, can focus on overcoming the challenges of the global
energy crisis and subsequent high prices.

55-year-old former energy chief Golob was elected prime minister after
his party Freedom Movement (Gibanje Svoboda) won the April 24
general election defeating former prime minister Janez Jansa’s
right-wing Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS).

The new government was sworn in on June 1. It consists of three
left-liberal parties – the Freedom Movement, the Social Democrats (SD)
and the Left.

Golob underlined that the new government is characterised by diversity
and balance as the only way to solve many challenges in society and
treat problems equally.

The Golob government also plans to focus on the green transition,
climate change, health and social reforms as well as knowledge-based
services.

Slovenia’s Interior Minister Tatjana Bobnar filed her resignation on
December 9 over disagreement with Golob. She cited political pressure
on staffing decisions in the Slovenian police. Bobnar is the first minister
in Golob's government, which came to power in June 2022, to file her
resignation.

On November 13, Slovenian voters elected the first female president of
the country, independent candidate Natasa Pirc Musar, in the second
round of the presidential elections. Pirc Musar defeated the rightwing
politician and former foreign minister Anze Logar, supported by Jansa’s
SDS.

Pirc Musar replaced Borut Pahor, who served two five-year mandates
as president. The role of the president in Slovenia is mostly ceremonial,
but the head of the state is commander-in-chief of the army and also
nominates top judiciary officials, as well as the central bank governor.

Pirc Musar is a 54-year-old lawyer, former journalist and TV presenter,
and ex-president of Slovenia’s Red Cross. Her law firm Pirc Musar &
Lemut Strle represented former US first lady Melania Trump, during her
husband's US presidency.

Pirc Musar highlighted the topics of human rights, the fight against
poverty, giving opportunities to young people and respecting the elderly.

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