10th National Assembly of Slovenia

First round of election of prime minister-designate

Upon the constitution of the National Assembly, a 30-day period commenced for the President Pirc Musar to nominate a candidate for Prime Minister-designate. Consultations with parliamentary group leaders are scheduled for February 20, 2026, to determine support for the first round of elections. 46 votes is needed for election.^[24][25]

Zoran Stevanović, newly elected President of the Assembly and leader of Resni.ca, stated that his party will not join a government, led by Golob or Janša, but will support a candidate for prime minister-designate who aligns with the party's positions. While Stevanović previously signed a certified pledge in 2021 to never cooperate with Janša or the SDS, his position shifted following his election as President of the Assembly, for which he was also co-nominated and supported by the SDS. He first softened before eventually altered it to the point that the certified statement had lost its purpose with the party's election to the National Assembly, which required them to cooperate with SDS.^[26]

Golob denounced Stevanović's election and SDS cooperation as a fraud, vowing to prevent the formation of a right-wing populist government. Although Stevanović claimed the media inspired his candidacy for President of the Assembly, Svoboda Secretary General Matej Grah revealed that Stevanović had previously lobbied the party for support. Svoboda declined, instead unsuccessfully offering the position to the Demokrati.^[27]

RTV SLO reported alleged internal divisions within the Demokrati. parliamentary group, suggesting some deputies prefer a coalition with Svoboda, SD and NSi, SLS, Fokus over a right-wing government led by Janša and supported by Resni.ca. Party leader Anže Logar, who failed to secure a parliamentary seat, denied these claims. Evidence of specific voting patterns emerged after the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) obtained ballots from the secret ballot for President of the National Assembly. Strategically marked ballots suggested coordinated support for Stevanović: nine marks aligned with the number of deputies for NSi, SLS, Fokus list and six with the number of deputies for Demokrati., indicating unified backing from these two parliamentary groups. Four other ballots were marked similarly, most likely by Resni.ca deputies (excluding Stevanović, who was on the ballot).^[28][29]

24ur reported that after Stevanović's election, Janez Janša is said to have started talks with NSi, SLS, Fokus, Demokrati., and Resni.ca about forming a center-right government.^[30]

Matjaž Han, the leader of the SD, said that the chances of a new center-left government are small and that a center-right government currently has a greater potential for formation. The Left's co-coordinator, Asta Vrečko, believes similarly.^[31]

On April 16, 2026, Matej Grah commented on progress of coalition negotiations led by Svoboda, stating that Svoboda is waiting for Demokrati. to reply to their proposal of coalition agreement, however Demokrati. are no longer responding to their calls and official invitations at all. Svoboda added that negotiations in the future will be conducted through groups of each party, as they suspect that Anže Logar is not fully informing his party members about the progress of the negotiations. The group of Svoboda is reportedly led by Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič.^[32] Demokrati. responded with withdrawal from negotiations, stating that Svoboda crossed the red line of political dialogiue.^[33]

On April 20, consultations with political parties were held by the President Pirc Musar. Robert Golob (Svoboda) announced that his party would withdraw into the opposition. He described the parties that elected National Assembly President Stevanović and are expected to form a new right-wing government as a “coalition of fraudsters.” Janez Janša (SDS) denied that a government was being formed and stated that SDS is also prepared for early elections or to go into opposition. Janez Cigler Kralj (NSi, SLS, Fokus) reiterated that their list is only prepared to participate in a center-right development government. Matjaž Han (SD) announced that his party would operate in opposition. Franc Križan (Demokrati.) stated that they are still negotiating with all who respect the party, doing so through their president Anže Logar, and that they are ready to cooperate with whoever will allow them to fulfill their electoral program. The Left was critical of the formation of a new center-right party and announced that it supports snap elections. Katja Kokot (Resni.ca) stated that they had also negotiated with SDS and found more common ground with them on substantive issues. President Pirc Musar responded that, for now, no candidate has secured the 46 votes of support needed to be elected Prime Minister.^[34]

On April 22, 2026, SDS introduced a bill to change a government structure, reducing number of ministries from 19 to 14. Other potential coalitions partners (NSi, SLS, Fokus and Demokrati.) did not co-sponsor the bill.^[35] Demokrati. and NSi, SLS, Fokus both supported the reduction of the number of ministries.^[36] On April 24, 2026, Janša stated that SDS will send a draft coalition agreement to those who will support the bill, but still expressed some level of reservation about forming a government if its majority will not be strong enough.^[37]

On April 25, 2026, President Pirc Musar announced that she will not nominate a candidate for Prime Minister-designate, since no candidate secured 46 votes in the National Assembly and she does not want to nominate a prime minister-designate for a minority government. This concludes the first round of election of prime minister-designate.^[38] Pirc Musar was criticized by some legal experts (e.g. Rajko Pirnat and Janez Pogorelec) for so quickly giving up the possibility of proposing a candidate, 15 days before the deadline. She also referred to the precedent of President Borut Pahor, who gave up the proposal in the first round of nominating a candidate for the Prime Minister-designate after the 2018 elections. Unlike Pirc Musar, Pahor only informed the National Assembly about this in 2018 when the deadline in the first round expired.^[39][40] The National Assembly will officially take notice of President Pirc Musar's decision on May 5, 2026, thereby formally concluding the first round of the election of prime minister-designate.^[41]

On April 29, 2026, the National Assembly passed a bill amending the Government Act, proposed by SDS, reducing the number of ministries from 19 to 14. The bill was supported by all present deputies of SDS, NSi, SLS,Fokus, Demokrati., and Resni.ca, signaling a possible new government coalition.^[42]