Page 22 - SE Outlook Regions 2024

prominent players in the next parliament are the SNS’ long-standing junior partner, the Serbian Socialist Party (SPS).
After a tough election campaign period reflecting the polarisation in Serbian politics, Vucic said in his victory speech that the most important thing is to unite the people and the country.
Just like after the April 2023 election, there seems little prospect of major changes in Serbian policy.
The country is still pursuing EU membership, but progress has flagged as Belgrade’s refusal to impose sanctions on Russia after the invasion of Ukraine brought it into conflict with many EU politicians. As an accession candidate, Serbia has been repeatedly urged to align its foreign policy with the EU’s Foreign and Security Policy.
The election has caused further problems as its conduct has been criticised by both diplomats from EU member states and several MEPs. A report from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODHIR) says election day was “marked by numerous procedural deficiencies, including inconsistent application of safeguards during voting and counting, frequent instances of overcrowding, breaches in secrecy of the vote and numerous instances of group voting.”
1.11 Politics - Slovenia
From the triumph of the political newcomer Freedom Movement party led by Robert Golob in the April 2022 elections to the current state of political turmoil, Slovenia’s political landscape changed radically during 2023. The resilience and stability promised by the coalition government have been replaced by resignations, internal conflicts, and calls for snap elections. While early elections are not anticipated, recent events instil a sense of uncertainty as 2024 begins.
The government led by Golob was formed in June 2022 in coalition with the Social Democrats, and the Left party, which together have 53 MPs in the 90-seat parliament.
Initially, the new government outlined comprehensive plans encompassing the green transition, climate change initiatives, health and social reforms, and the development of knowledge-based services. However, the landscape drastically shifted with catastrophic floods in August that claimed lives and caused extensive damage estimated at around €10bn.
The second half of 2023 witnessed a wave of resignations and dismissals within the Slovenian government, casting doubt on recent adjustments that expanded Golob's authority to increase the number of ministries. The changes, predominantly within Golob's Freedom
22 SE Outlook 2024 www.intellinews.com