Voting began in Slovenia on Sunday in a parliamentary election that will decide whether the EU member of roughly 2 million people stays on a liberal course or swings toward the kind of illiberal right‑wing populism seen in Hungary and Slovakia.
Who’s running
The contest centers on incumbent Prime Minister Robert Golob and his liberal Freedom Movement versus Janez Janša, a three‑time premier, and his right‑wing Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS). Neither camp is expected to win an outright majority in Slovenia’s 90‑seat parliament, so smaller parties are likely to determine which side can build a governing coalition.
Why it matters to the EU
The outcome has wider implications for the European Union. Golob has spoken for the EU’s mainstream liberal agenda, while Janša and the SDS are aligned with Viktor Orbán’s circle and have adopted a combative, Trump‑admiring tone — Janša has publicly expressed admiration for former US President Donald Trump. Since Slovenia’s independence from communist Yugoslavia in 1991, governments have often alternated between these two poles; Slovenia joined the EU and NATO in 2004.
Allegations of foreign interference
In the run‑up to the vote, journalists and activists accused Janša of hiring the private Israeli intelligence firm Black Cube to help his campaign. The allegations say Black Cube produced a series of videos designed to influence the election by portraying government corruption.
Janša, who has previously drawn criticism for curbing press freedom and weakening the rule of law during earlier terms, has repeatedly attacked Golob’s administration, calling it a “crime syndicate.” He has acknowledged contacts with Black Cube but denies any illegal election interference.
Golob, speaking at a Brussels summit, called for an EU probe: “It is so important, not to act now on behalf of Slovenia, but to act now to protect every other state that will come into election process in the next months. I am absolutely confident that Slovenian voters will be able to recognize that foreign interference is something that shall never be allowed.”
Slovenian authorities say Black Cube operatives visited Ljubljana four times during the campaign and were spotted near the street housing SDS headquarters. Black Cube, whose founders include former Mossad agents, has not publicly responded to the newest allegations. The firm says it operates legally and ethically but has been linked to past controversies, including efforts to discredit women who accused Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
This is a developing story and will be updated throughout the day.
Edited by: Kieran Burke