Slovenia has entered a decisive phase in its government-formation process. This week, the National Assembly will formally acknowledge that President Nataša Pirc Musar will not nominate a candidate in the first round. This opens the door for a second round in which Janez Janša, leader of the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), is widely expected to emerge as the leading candidate for prime minister.
The development follows the closely contested parliamentary elections held on 22 March. Outgoing Prime Minister Robert Golob’s centre-left Freedom Movement narrowly won the most seats (29) but failed to secure a stable majority. Janša’s SDS came a close second with 28 seats. No clear governing coalition emerged, prompting President Pirc Musar to conclude consultations without proposing a candidate. She cited a lack of mutual trust and sufficient support among parliamentary groups.
Slovenia heads for difficult coalition talks after razor-thin election result
Janša’s push for a centre-right coalition
Janša has already taken concrete steps toward forming what would be his fourth government. Following Parliament’s recent approval of amendments to the Government Act – which reduce the number of ministries from 19 to 14 – he sent draft coalition guidelines to several centre-right and conservative parties.
Parties that supported the ministry-reduction bill (and are now seen as potential partners) include:
NSi (New Slovenia)SLS (Slovenian People’s Party)FokusDemocrats (led by Anže Logar)Resni.ca (a populist party led by the controversial Zoran Stevanović, who was recently elected Speaker of Parliament with support from these groups)
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Tina Bregant (SLS) described the draft guidelines as appropriate and said negotiations would continue next week. The Democrats confirmed receipt of the document. Other parties have been more reserved, while Resni.ca has publicly ruled out joining a formal coalition – though Janša still sent them the proposals.
Janša has stressed he will not form a “weak” government and has expressed personal reservations about taking power in challenging times. He has floated the idea of a broader “development partnership” rather than a fragile coalition.
Potential ministerial line-up and context
Media reports have already begun speculating on portfolio allocations and names (though parties emphasise these remain unofficial):NSi, SLS, and Fokus could receive 4–5 ministries combined, potentially including infrastructure, energy, demography/family, education, and defence.
Democrats may target economy, health, culture, or justice.
SDS would likely retain key posts such as finance, interior, and foreign affairs.
This shift toward a centre-right government would mark a significant political change in Slovenia, an EU and NATO member of about 2.1 million people. Janša, a three-time former prime minister often described as a populist or conservative, even as “Slovenia’s Trump”, has been a polarising figure in Slovenian and European politics. His potential return comes amid debates over economic reforms, migration, and EU relations.
Next steps in the processTuesday: Extraordinary session of Parliament to note the President’s decision.Wednesday onward: 14-day window for parliamentary groups or groups of at least 10 MPs to nominate candidates for prime minister.Voting on candidates is expected shortly after the deadline.
If no candidate secures a majority, new elections could eventually be called. For now, all eyes are on whether Janša can translate parliamentary arithmetic and recent procedural wins into a stable governing coalition.
Ultimately, this “week of truth” will clarify whether Slovenia gets a new government in the coming weeks or heads toward further political uncertainty.
The original article in Slovenian by EUlive’s parner Siol.net can be found here.
Caption: The leader of Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) Janez Jansa speaks to the media during the Parliamentary election at Arce village near Velenje town, Slovenia, 22 March 2026. The 22 March 20206 parliamentary election follows reports of an alleged covert operation by the Israeli intelligence firm Black Cube to influence the vote. EPA/ANTONIO BAT
Updated: May 4, 2026 – 07:27