Slovenias Parliament Approves Right-Wing Janez Jansa as Prime Minister

Slovenia’s Parliament Approves Populist Leader for Prime Minister Position

In a vote held on Friday, Slovenia’s parliament has approved Janez Jansa as the country’s prime minister, marking a shift in power after his last term ended in 2022. The decision was made with a vote of 51-36, and Jansa will need to return to parliament within 15 days for another vote to confirm his future cabinet.

The approval comes after a post-election stalemate, which saw the vote two months ago end in a tie when former liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob’s Freedom Movement failed to secure a parliamentary majority. A coalition agreement between Jansa’s Slovenian Democratic Party and several centre-right groups has secured 43 seats in the assembly, making it the fourth time Jansa has held office.

The new government is comprised of the SDS, New Slovenia, Democrats, the Slovenian People’s Party, and Focus, with additional backing from the right-wing Resnica party. In a speech outlining the government’s goals, Jansa mentioned the economy, fight against corruption, decentralisation, tax reduction for the rich, and support for private education and healthcare.

Jansa has expressed admiration for US President Donald Trump and was also close to Hungary’s former populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who lost his election last month. The former prime minister has been a vocal critic of the Golob government’s recognition of a Palestinian state in 2024. During his previous term, Jansa faced criticism for clamping down on democratic institutions and press freedoms, leading to protests and scrutiny from the European Union.

The new government will now need to be confirmed through another vote within 15 days.

Source: Al Jazeera