Slovenia’s parliament approves right-wing Janez Jansa as prime minister
TL;DR
Slovenia's parliament has voted 51-36 to reinstate right-wing politician Janez Jansa as prime minister. His appointment follows a coalition agreement with centre-right groups and will require another vote to confirm his Cabinet within 15 days.
Key points
- Janez Jansa reinstated as prime minister of Slovenia
- Parliament voted 51-36 in favor of Jansa
- Coalition agreement with centre-right groups signed
- Previous liberal government could not secure majority
- Cabinet confirmation vote required within 15 days
Mentioned in this story
Slovenia’s parliament has voted to bring back right-wing politician Janez Jansa as prime minister, after his last stint in power ended in 2022.
Legislators in the 90-member assembly voted 51-36 for Jansa on Friday – marking a shift for the small European Union country recently run by a liberal government.
Jansa will need to return to parliament within the next 15 days for another vote to confirm his future Cabinet.
His appointment concludes a post-election stalemate after the vote two months ago ended in a tie when former liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob’s Freedom Movement was unable to create a parliamentary majority by only securing a thin margin.
On Thursday, Jansa and his populist Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) signed a coalition agreement with several centre-right groups to form a new government, which now holds 43 seats in the assembly.
It will be the fourth time 67-year-old Jansa has been in office.
He was the country’s leader from 2004 to 2008, 2012 to 2013 and 2020 to 2022.
In the March 22 elections, the SDS came second with 28 seats, behind Golob’s Freedom Movement, which secured 29 seats.
Former Prime Minister of Slovenia Robert Golob during the NATO summit on June 25, 2025 [Pierre Crom/Getty Images]
The new coalition government is made up of the SDS, New Slovenia, Democrats, the Slovenian People’s Party and Focus. It also secured additional backing from the right-wing Resnica party, which will not formally join the government.
In a speech laying out the government’s future goals, Jansa listed the economy, the fight against corruption and red tape, and decentralisation.
He also promised to lower taxes for the rich and support private education and healthcare.
Earlier this month, Jansa told reporters that the coalition would ensure a “cheaper state but with better quality”.
Jansa is an admirer of US President Donald Trump and was also a close ally of Hungary’s former populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who was defeated in a landslide election last month.
The former PM is a supporter of Israel and was a staunch critic of the Golob government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state in 2024.
During his last term in office, Jansa faced accusations of clamping down on democratic institutions and press freedoms, leading to protests then and scrutiny from the European Union.
Q&A
What was the vote count for Janez Jansa's appointment as prime minister?
The vote count was 51 in favor and 36 against Janez Jansa's appointment as prime minister.
What led to Janez Jansa's return as prime minister in Slovenia?
Janez Jansa's return follows a coalition agreement with several centre-right groups after a post-election stalemate where the previous liberal government could not secure a parliamentary majority.
When will Janez Jansa's Cabinet be confirmed by the parliament?
Janez Jansa's Cabinet must be confirmed by parliament within the next 15 days after his appointment.
