Slovenia’s Golob fails to form government, opening door to the right

Slovenia’s post-election deadlock deepened today after Prime Minister Robert Golob said he had been unable to assemble a governing coalition, despite his party’s razor-thin victory in last month’s parliamentary vote.

The setback now gives an opening to runner-up Janez Jansa, a supporter of US President Donald Trump, to try to build a coalition in the EU member state of two million people.

“We are looking forward to our work in the opposition,” the liberal Mr Golob, 59, told reporters after meeting the president, saying he had failed to secure a coalition partner among centre-right parties.

Mr Golob’s liberals captured 29 seats in last month’s election, narrowly ahead of the conservatives led by three-time premier Mr Jansa, who won 28 in the 90-seat parliament.

Mr Jansa, for his part, repeated today that he was in no hurry to put together a government and said he wanted what was “the most ideal for the country”.

“The SDS (Slovenian Democratic Party) is not forming any government at the moment,” Mr Jansa said.

“This week we will concentrate on the constitution of the parliament, since that is on the agenda,” he said, adding that, if needed, his party was “ready for new elections tomorrow”.

Earlier this month, lawmakers at parliament’s inaugural session chose a member of an anti-establishment party as speaker, with support from Mr Jansa’s conservatives and an ally.

President Natasa Pirc Musar must nominate a prime minister-designate to parliament within 30 days of the chamber’s 10 April inaugural session.

If that nominee fails to win a majority, the law gives parties 10 days to put forward a new candidate.