Green agenda takes new party to power in Slovenia

Slovenia's populist Prime Minister Janez Jansa on Sunday lost his reelection bid to a green-liberal opposition party led by Robert Golob.

Golob's Freedom Movement, which was only established in January, claimed 34.5 percent of the vote compared to 23.6 percent for Jansa's right-wing Slovenian Democratic Party, or SDS, according to a near-complete count.

Observers say a coalition government will likely be the outcome, as results mean the Freedom Movement could have 40 seats compared to 28 seats for the SDS, in the 90-seat Slovenian Parliament. Golob's party is expected to seek an alliance with the left-leaning Social Democrats and Left parties, which have 12 seats.

More than 1.7 million, from a population of 2.1 million, were eligible to vote in the country that is a member of the European Union and the NATO military alliance, with turnout measured to be 68 percent, according to the election commission.

Golob has capitalized on divisions over the rule of law and public anger toward Jansa's government, reported news agencies.

Opponents have accused Jansa of seeking to undermine democratic institutions and the press since being elected in 2020, which he denies.

The Freedom Movement campaigned for a transition to green energy, an open society and the rule of law, said Reuters.

Golob was formerly the chief of a state-owned power company and billed the elections as a "referendum on democracy".

"Our objective has been reached: a victory that will enable us to take the country back to freedom," Golob told supporters in his victory speech.

Jansa, previously served as prime minister between 2004 and 2008, and between 2012 and 2013.

The Agence France-Presse news service quoted political analyst Miha Kovac as saying younger voters had been mobilized.

He also warned that the newly formed party had no government experience.

Addressing his supporters, Jansa conceded defeat and said the new government will face "many challenges".

He noted that his SDS party had secured more votes than ever before. "The results are what they are. Congratulations to the relative winner," he said.