Headlines
Slovenia PM Golob's Party Goes Into Opposition After Coalition Talks Fail
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 20, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 20, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleQuick Summary
Slovenia’s liberal Freedom Movement (GS), led by outgoing PM Robert Golob, failed to form a governing coalition after winning 29 of 90 seats in March’s election. With no majority, GS will move into opposition while the centre‑right SDS, holding 28 seats, may form the next government.
Slovenia PM Golob's Party Moves to Opposition After Failed Coalition Talks
Political Developments Following the Parliamentary Vote
Election Results and Coalition Challenges
SARAJEVO, April 20 (Reuters) - Slovenia's outgoing prime minister, Robert Golob, on Monday said that his liberal Freedom Movement (GS), which narrowly won a parliamentary vote in March, would go into opposition after failing to secure a majority coalition, indicating that centre-right parties would form a government.
GS won 29 of the 90 seats in parliament, followed by the right-leaning Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) of populist, pro-Trump ex-prime minister Janez Jansa on 28.
Along with smaller parties that have typically supported them, GS would have 40 MPs while SDS would have 43 seats, leaving both in need of support from elsewhere.
Golob's Response and Future Plans
"We are looking forward to working in the opposition," the state news agency STA quoted Golob as telling reporters after meeting the president, who invited the heads of all parties for consultations on a new government.
Policy Differences Between Golob and Jansa
Foreign Policy and Social Reforms
Golob, who came to power in 2022, aligned foreign policy more closely with that of Slovenia's fellow European Union members, something Jansa could reverse.
Golob has also focused on social reforms, while Jansa wants to introduce tax breaks for businesses and cut funding for NGOs, welfare and media.
Jansa's Position and Potential Scenarios
Statements on Government Formation
Jansa, who disputed the election results, said the SDS was not currently working to form a government but was prepared for all scenarios - to remain in opposition, form a government or contest another election.
President's Role and Mandate
"All three options are good for us, but which options are good for Slovenia is a different thing," he told reporters after meeting President Natasa Pirc Musar, who had pledged to grant a mandate to form a government to any group that secured 46 seats in parliament.
(Reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
Key Takeaways
- •GS’s Freedom Movement narrowly led the March 22 election with 29 seats, followed closely by Janša’s SDS with 28 seats — the slimmest margin in Slovenian history (osw.waw.pl).
- •Coalition talks faltered: GS and its usual allies fell short of the 46-seat majority, prompting Golob to say on April 20 that GS will serve in opposition (euronews.com).
- •SDS leader Janša is not rushing to form a government and remains open to forming one, staying in opposition, or even seeking a repeat election (euronews.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Slovenia PM Golob's party goes into opposition after coalition talks fail
1Why is Slovenia's Freedom Movement party moving to opposition?
The Freedom Movement party failed to secure a majority coalition in parliament and will go into opposition.
2How many seats did the Freedom Movement and SDS win in Slovenia's parliament?
The Freedom Movement won 29 seats, while the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) won 28 out of 90 parliamentary seats.
3Who is expected to form Slovenia's new government?
Centre-right parties led by the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) are expected to form the new government.
4What policies does Robert Golob support?
Robert Golob aligned foreign policy with the EU and focused on social reforms.
5What changes could Janez Jansa bring to Slovenia?
Janez Jansa could reverse EU-aligned policies, introduce business tax breaks, and cut funding for NGOs, welfare, and media.
