By: Dr Metod Berlec
Slovenia is entering a new political era. After weeks of post‑election negotiations, numerous tests, and inevitable turbulence, a coalition agreement was signed in the second half of May between SDS, NSi, the Democrats, SLS, and Fokus. SDS president Janez Janša was elected Prime Minister in the National Assembly. With this, the conditions were created for Slovenia, following confirmation in parliament, to receive the fourth Janez Janša government – a centre‑right development‑oriented government that promises a return to stability, responsibility, and the strategic development of the country.
This moment did not come by accident. It required a strong election result, but above all wisdom in the post‑election period, when it was necessary to keep calm, show political maturity, and demonstrate the ability to build alliances. Robert Golob was unable to do that. From the relative winner of the election, he turned into the loser of the post‑election process, as he failed to form a majority.
On the other side, the SDS president acted as an experienced politician and statesman. With patience, deliberation, and a clear sense of the real balance of power, he and the coalition partners brought the negotiations to the signing of the agreement, his election as Prime Minister, and the confirmation of the ministerial team in the National Assembly, which is expected to take place today. It is true that the coalition path was not without complications. The most visible recent disagreement was related to staffing expectations within SLS. But as Janša emphasised in an interview for Nova24TV, published later in this magazine, it was necessary to look at the bigger picture: “If the rule were that one MP equals one ministerial post, we would need 43 ministries; SDS would have 28 of them, and even that would still be more ministries than, for example, during the Executive Council era. … SDS, based on the proportions, has a 65‑percent share, but as you can see from the composition of the ministries, it sacrificed a large part of that share.” He also stressed that governments are not built only by ministers, but by a wide circle of capable people who will have to take responsibility across many areas.
In the interview, Janša outlined his expectations for the coming term: “No war is the same as the previous one. The biggest mistake is to think that things will repeat themselves.” The coalition agreement sets clear goals, but the challenges will be many. Among the first tasks of the new government will be restoring order to public finances, preparing the budget and a budget revision, reversing harmful decisions of the previous government, and restoring Slovenia’s reputation in the international arena, a reputation that has been seriously damaged by irresponsible foreign policy. A country’s reputation is not symbolic – it directly affects investment, EU negotiations, and economic prospects. Janša was also clear regarding security, migration, healthcare, education, and social policy. The goal is a country where wages and pensions are higher, public services more efficient, and security guaranteed, and where Slovenia will not “accept everyone who crosses the Kolpa and says ‘asylum’.” He believes the main political battle will take place in parliament. After four lost years, Slovenia now has an opportunity to return to a path of development, stability, and restored international standing.
