Slovenia elects Janez Janša as new prime minister in parliamentary vote
Slovenia's National Assembly elected Janez Janša as prime minister for the fourth time with a 47-43 vote. The veteran leader spent two months building a coalition after the Robert Golob government collapsed in March. The European Commission and NATO congratulated Janša; migration and judicial reforms top the agenda.
In a Saturday vote in Slovenia's National Assembly, Slovenian Democratic Party SDS leader Janez Janša was elected prime minister with 47 of 90 seats supporting him. Janša's government is being formed with backing from SDS, New Slovenia NSi, and the legislators representing the Italian and Hungarian minority communities. This will be the fourth premiership term for the 66-year-old Janša; previous terms ran 2004-2008, 2012-2013, and 2020-2022.
Former Prime Minister Robert Golob's Freedom Movement Party GS collapsed in March after losing support from junior coalition partners. Presenting his programme, Janša said priorities will include border security, structural reform of the Constitutional Court, a digital single-window system for farmers, and the capital markets reform recommended by the OECD. He emphasised that relations with NATO and the EU will be maintained as 'a foundational pillar.' Slovenia closed fiscal 2026 with 3.8 percent growth and 2.1 percent inflation.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X that 'I look forward to working with Janša on our common priorities.' NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said 'we have full confidence in Slovenia's contributions to the alliance.' Opposition leader Tanja Fajon said the slim coalition majority could create stability problems and referred to press freedom controversies from Janša's 2020-2022 term. The first government statement is expected in early June.
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