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Slovenian President Tells Lawmakers to Nominate PM Able to Form Coalition
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 25, 2026
3 min readLast updated: April 25, 2026
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Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar has declined to nominate a prime minister after recent elections resulted in a hung parliament. She will now delegate the nomination power to lawmakers, who have 14 days to propose a candidate before a possible third round or early elections.
Slovenian Lawmakers Tasked to Nominate Prime Minister Amid Coalition Deadlock
Political Stalemate Following Slovenian Elections
SARAJEVO, April 25 (Reuters) - Slovenia was left without a prime minister-designate in the wake of last month's election after President Natasa Pirc Musar said on Saturday she would not nominate one because no parliamentary group had secured enough support to form a governing coalition.
Election Results and Coalition Challenges
The parliamentary vote ended up with a narrow victory for the outgoing prime minister, Robert Golob, whose liberal Freedom Movement (GS) secured 29 seats while populist ex-premier Janez Jansa's right-leaning Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) won 28.
Failed Coalition Talks
Golob kicked off coalition talks with a broad range of parties, but admitted this week that he had failed to secure 46 votes in parliament and that GS would go into opposition.
Jansa's Position and Alleged Negotiations
Jansa, who disputed the election results, said the SDS was not currently working to form a government but media reported that he was secretly working to form a government with smaller centre-right parties that entered the parliament.
President's Decision and Next Steps
Pirc Musar said her decision means that the proposal of the candidate for prime minister will be delegated to lawmakers, who will have 14 days to nominate a new premier.
If they fail to do so in this second round of voting, there will be a third round in the 90-seat parliament.
Potential for Early Elections
"Only if the second and third rounds are not successful, I can call early elections," Pirc Musar told a news conference called to announce her decision.
Lack of Support and Trust Among Politicians
She said that no parliamentary group had met her request to submit 46 votes of support during consultations earlier this week. She also highlighted a lack of trust and mutual respect among the politicians she had consulted with.
"If political actors want to gain my trust to propose a candidate for prime minister after consultations with them, I expect them to speak honestly and frankly," she said.
Implications for Slovenia's Policy Direction
A leadership change could affect Slovenia's foreign and domestic agendas as Golob had pursued European Union-aligned foreign policy and social reforms.
Potential Policy Reversals Under Jansa
Jansa, a supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump who wants to introduce tax breaks for businesses and cut funding for NGOs, welfare and media, could reverse these if he regains power.
(Reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Alexander Smith)
Key Takeaways
- •No party achieved the 46-seat majority needed in the 90-seat National Assembly; the Freedom Movement holds 29 seats, while the SDS holds 28 (March 22, 2026 election) (ansa.it).
- •President Pirc Musar refused to nominate a PM-designate after initial consultations failed to produce a viable candidate with majority support (caliber.az).
- •Lawmakers now have 14 days to nominate a prime minister candidate; if unsuccessful, further rounds will follow and early elections could be triggered (caliber.az).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Slovenian president tells lawmakers to nominate PM able to form coalition
1Why did the Slovenian president refuse to nominate a prime minister?
President Natasa Pirc Musar said no parliamentary group secured enough support to form a governing coalition, so she did not nominate a PM-designate.
2What happens next in Slovenia's search for a prime minister?
The proposal for prime minister is now delegated to lawmakers, who have 14 days to nominate a candidate in parliament.
3What will occur if Slovenian lawmakers cannot nominate a prime minister?
If lawmakers fail in the second and third voting rounds, President Pirc Musar can call early elections.
4How could Slovenia's policies change with a new leadership?
A change in leadership could shift Slovenia’s foreign and domestic policies, with possible reversals in EU-aligned foreign policy and social reforms, depending on who is in power.
