Slovenia's outgoing Prime Minister Robert Golob conceded on Monday that he had failed to assemble a governing coalition, a development that shifts the initiative to veteran conservative Janez Janša, who has indicated he is in no hurry to form a government.
Golob's liberal party, the Freedom Movement, secured 29 seats in the 90-seat parliament in last month's election, while Janša's Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) won 28. The narrow margin left neither camp with a clear path to a majority without support from smaller parties.
“We are looking forward to our work in the opposition,” Golob, 59, told reporters after meeting President Nataša Pirc Musar. He acknowledged that he had not found a partner among centre-right parties to form a ruling coalition.
Janša's Calculated Wait
Janša, 67, who has served as prime minister three times, has publicly ruled out coalition talks with Golob. On Monday, he reiterated that his party is not currently forming a government. “The SDS is not forming any government at the moment,” Janša said. “This week we will concentrate on the constitution of the parliament, since that is on the agenda.” He added that, if necessary, his party is “ready for new elections tomorrow.”
Janša's cautious approach reflects a desire to avoid a weak or short-lived administration. He said he wants to do what is “the most ideal for the country,” suggesting he may prefer to wait for a potential repeat election that could give his party a stronger mandate.
Earlier this month, the parliament's inaugural session elected a speaker from the anti-establishment party The Left, backed by Janša's conservatives and an ally. That move signalled that the SDS can still wield influence even without holding the premiership.
Under Slovenia's constitution, President Pirc Musar must propose a prime minister designate to parliament within 30 days of the 10 April inaugural session. If no candidate secures a majority, the president can dissolve parliament and call a snap election.
The political uncertainty comes as Slovenia, an Alpine EU member of 2 million people, faces challenges including inflation, energy costs, and the need to maintain its pro-European stance amid rising populism in the region. The country has also taken a stand on international issues, such as joining a boycott of Eurovision over Israel's participation, a move that reflects its foreign policy orientation.
Golob's failure to form a coalition is a setback for the liberal camp, which had hoped to build on its electoral success. The Freedom Movement's razor-thin majority proved insufficient to attract centrist or centre-right partners, leaving the country in a political limbo.
Observers note that Janša's strategy of waiting could pay off if public frustration with the deadlock grows. However, a prolonged stalemate risks damaging Slovenia's reputation for stability in the Western Balkans, a region already grappling with political turbulence in neighbouring countries like Bulgaria, where a pro-Russia shift is underway.
For now, Slovenia's parliament will focus on organisational matters, while the president weighs her next move. The coming weeks will determine whether the country heads to the polls again or finds a way to break the impasse.
