2026 Slovenian parliamentary election

Timetable

Voting eligibility

Citizens of Slovenia who are at least 18 years old on election day are eligible to vote in elections to the National Assembly. Voting rights are universal and equal for all eligible citizens, regardless of social, ethnic, economic, or political affiliation. Individuals deprived of legal capacity by a court decision due to an inability to understand the purpose of elections may be excluded.^[14][15] Slovenian citizens residing abroad also retain voting rights. They may vote by post or at diplomatic and consular missions if they notify authorities within the prescribed deadlines.^[16]

Voter registration is automatic and based on the central population register maintained by the Ministry of the Interior. Electoral rolls are compiled 15 days before election day and list voters by their permanent or last registered residence. Voters must cast their ballots at the polling station assigned to them unless eligible for special voting arrangements, such as OMNIA stations for individuals who have changed residence after the roll compilation.^[8]

Voting takes place by secret ballot, and Slovenia does not require compulsory voting. Proxy voting is prohibited, except in cases of certified disability where legally defined assistance is permitted. In-person voting is held on election day from 7:00 to 19:00, while limited postal voting is available for hospitalized, detained, or temporarily absent voters who notify the State Election Commission in advance.^[16] Members of the Italian and Hungarian national communities possess additional voting rights, enabling them to elect their own representatives in dedicated single-member constituencies, in addition to voting for the remaining 88 deputies under the general system.^[17]

Voting method and seat allocation

The National Assembly consists of 90 members. Of these, 88 are elected through open list proportional representation across eight constituencies, each electing 11 deputies. The remaining two seats are reserved for the Italian and Hungarian minority communities, elected using the plurality voting method.^[16] Political parties or lists must surpass the national 4% electoral threshold to qualify for seat allocation. Within each constituency, seats are distributed using the Droop quota method. Voters may cast a preferential vote for a candidate on a party list, influencing the order of election within that list.^{[citation needed]} Remaining seats after constituency allocation are distributed at the national level using the D'Hondt method to maintain proportionality. Although Slovenia is divided into 88 electoral districts, not all districts necessarily elect a deputy, as multiple deputies may be elected from some districts depending on list performance.^[18]

Gender quotas apply to candidate lists: at least 35% of candidates must be from each gender, except on three-candidate lists, which must include at least one candidate of each gender.^[19][20] As of October 2025, no amendments have yet been made to the proportional representation system, and the electoral framework remains unchanged from previous elections, despite a referendum approving the introduction of the preferential vote and ongoing public and political calls for a shift toward a two-round majority electoral system.^{[citation needed]}

Parties in Parliament

The following parties and lists have seats in the current National Assembly before the election:

Other parties

New political parties

A number of new political parties emerged after the previous election. The first was Pavel Rupar's Voice of Pensioners, founded at its inaugural congress on 20 January 2024 by former SDS MP and Mayor of Tržič Pavel Rupar.^[42] Ahead of the 2024 European Parliament election, the satirical party None of the Above was established under the leadership of activist Boris Žulj and former The Left MP Violeta Tomić.^[43] In the same year, former foreign minister Anže Logar began building his own political party, and following his departure from SDS, the party Democrats was formally founded.^[44] Another new party, Karl Erjavec - Trust Party, led by four-time DeSUS Minister Karl Erjavec, was established soon afterwards.^[45]

In early 2025, Marko Lotrič, President of the National Council, founded his party Focus of Marko Lotrič at an inaugural congress held at Brdo pri Kranju.^[46] Later that year, DeSUS and Good State merged into the Party of Generations, led by former Minister of Labor Vlado Dimovski.^[47] Former SDS MP Dejan Kaloh founded the party Suvereni, and a party of local lists, Community, was formed under the leadership of Mayor of Hrastnik Marko Funkl.^[48]

The party Prerod – Party of Vladimir Prebilič was founded by former Mayor of Kočevje, 2022 presidential candidate and MEP Vladimir Prebilič,^[49] and former The Left MP and another 2022 presidential candidate Miha Kordiš founded the socialist party We, Socialists!^[50] Two further projects were reported to be in the process of establishment, The Guard, linked to Catholic podcaster Alen Koman, and Volt Slovenia, as a Slovenian branch of the pan-European federalist movement Volt Europa.^[51] Unlike Volt Slovenia, The Guard collected 200 signatures in time to establish a new political party, but failed to collect 100 signatures in each of the 8 electoral districts which would place the party on ballot.^[52]

Pre-election cooperation

Pre-election alliances, mergers, and cooperation talks reshaped the landscape. Greens of Slovenia first called for the unification of green forces on a joint list.^[53] The Left and Vesna – Green Party signed a pre-election agreement announcing a joint run in the election;^[54] the cooperation was later formally confirmed by both parties in their internal bodies.^[55][56] Talks about cooperation within this broader left-green axis also included the newly established localist party Community,^[57] which is also a potential partner for Prerod, as was Party of Generations until they announced they would contest the election alone.^[58] In addition, a public appeal on social media, with the liberal activist Jaša Jenull urging We, Socialists!, The Left, Vesna, and the Pirates to join forces and establish a United Progressive Front.^[59]

On the centre-left, Prerod announced talks with the Social Democrats and related cooperation initiatives on the wider left.^[60] However, Prerod later rejected the option of a joint list with SD and announced it would run independently, while leaving open further talks with the Party of Generations, although they later also rejected this option.^[61] Prebilič also invited the leaders of several centre-left parties to a meeting intended to explore future cooperation, but the meeting did not take place because most invitees declined. Robert Golob invited SD, The Left, We, Socialists!, Pirates, Prerod, Vesna and unexpectedly Resni.ca for talks.^[62] Resni.ca rejected the offer and Karl Erjavec claimed that his Karl Erjavec - Trust Party was not invited because it cannot be "cannibalized".^[63]

On the centre-right, Concretely merged into Democrats,^[64] and New Social Democracy, led by Andrej Magajna, later announced they were in talks about a united participation with Democrats,^[65] which was later abandoned and New Social Democracy didn't file to participate in the election. New Slovenia and the Slovenian People’s Party opened talks on possible joint cooperation,^[66] and NSi, SLS, and FOKUS each signed a separate declaration of intent and began coordinating a potential common list and the distribution of constituencies.^[67][68]

On the nationalist side, Suvereni, United Slovenia Movement and Party of Slovenian People, MP Dejan Kaloh, Andrej Šiško and Ivan Bolfek, announced efforts to form a "sovereigntist–patriotic bloc" and referenced the political action SLOEXIT, proposing Slovenia's withdrawal from the EU and a debate on leaving NATO.^[69] Suvereni representatives later appeared at an event organised by Karl Erjavec – Trust Party, where cooperation and the formation of a new parliamentary group were discussed.^[70] However, Suvereni subsequently decided to run independently rather than enter an electoral partnership with Karl Erjavec – Trust Party,^[71] and United Slovenia Movement and Party of Slovenian People announced the forming of the Coalition of the United Nations.^[72] After DVK rejected KZN's lists in three electoral districts, they withdrew from the election alltogether. Eventually, Suvereni decided to participate on the lists of the Trust Party.^[73]

In the centre, Greens of Slovenia and Party of Generations formed an alliance.^[74] Among smaller actors, None of This and For a Healthy Society announced plans for a joint electoral list,^[75] while Resni.ca was reportedly invited but declined.^{[citation needed]}

Leadership changes

The Left were the first to change coordinators when they replaced Luka Mesec with Asta Vrečko in 2023.^[76] Social Democrats were next when they elected Matjaž Han as party president,^[77] after Tanja Fajon resigned after Litijska Affair.^[78] In 2025, several parties reaffirmed their leaders or elected new ones. Slovenian Democratic Party subsequently held its congress, at which Janez Janša was reconfirmed as party president and continuing his 33-year long streak at the helm of the party.^[79] New Slovenia then followed as they elected Jernej Vrtovec as party president, succeeding Matej Tonin.^[80] Freedom reaffirmed Robert Golob as party president at its electoral congress.^[81] The electoral congress of The Left followed, with current coordinator Asta Vrečko and former coordinator Luka Mesec confirmed as co-coordinators.^[82] Vesna reconfirmed its co-leadership, with Urša Zgojznik and Uroš Macerl continuing as co-presidents.^[83]

Slogans

Debates

Robert Golob announced on Instagram a list of four proposed debates with Janez Janša.^[101] Meanwhile, SDS and the bloc formed by NSi, SLS, and FOKUS announced that they would not participate in debates on RTV due to the broadcaster’s decision not to air the programme Tarča, although they later reversed their decision.^[102] Janša confirmed his participation only in a debate hosted by the AIDEA podcast, led by Klemen Selakovič. He also proposed a public debate format, suggesting venues such as Cankar Centre, Exhibition and Convention Centre, or Maribor. Under his proposal, each candidate would be allowed to bring two journalists to ask questions, while members of the audience would also have the opportunity to participate.^[103]

During the pre-election campaign, TV SLO 1 broadcast a total of eight televised election debates, scheduled between 19 February and 19 March. Debates involving parliamentary parties aired on five Thursdays at 8:00 p.m., starting on 19 February, while debates featuring non-parliamentary parties were broadcast on three Mondays at 8:00 p.m., beginning on 2 March.^[104] The debates also included thematic programmes focusing on specific policy areas, including healthcare and long-term care, foreign policy and security, as well as the economy, taxation, and wages. The pre-election series concluded with a final debate between the leaders of parliamentary parties on 19 March.^{[citation needed]} On Radio Prvi, election debates was held on Wednesdays at 5:00 p.m. between 25 February and 18 March. The final debate brought together representatives of all political parties.^[104]

POP TV organised six election debates, broadcast on four Mondays and two Fridays between 23 February and 20 March. Unlike previous election campaigns, the broadcaster recorded most debates on location, including in Koper (23 February), Ljubljana (UKC Ljubljana, 2 March), Novo mesto (6 March), Kranj (9 March), and Maribor (16 March). The final debate, held on the evening before the start of the election silence, will take place in a television studio.^{[citation needed]} On Planet TV, the debate series Slovenia Chooses aired on Sundays at 8:00 p.m., starting on 22 February, and was hosted by Katarina Braniselj and Luka Svetina.^{[citation needed]} On Nova24TV, the election debates were held between 25 February and 18 March, and were hosted by Aleksander Rant.^{[citation needed]}

Interviews

The weekly programme Pogovori o prihodnosti was hosted by Tomaž Vesel. It aired on Mondays at 9:00 p.m. on TV Veseljak Golica, on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. on TV Aktual, and on Sundays at 9:30 p.m. on Radio 1 TV. The programme consisted of a series of thirteen interviews with the leaders of political parties.^[130] In addition to its traditional large-scale election debates, POP TV also produced eight weekly interviews with party leaders as part of the 24UR news programme.^[131] The paired interviews were conducted by journalists from the evening news team Žana Vertačnik, Anže Božič, Marko Gregorc, and Kaja Kobetič, as well as journalists from the 24ur.com portal, including Urša Zupan, Mirko Vorkapić, Natalija Švab, and Maruša Slana.^[132]

As part of the evening current affairs programme Odmevi on TV SLO 1, profiles of political parties were broadcast between 3 and 16 February 2026. These profiles focused on parties polling above two percent in public opinion surveys ahead of the upcoming elections and consisted of nine approximately fifteen-minute interviews with party leaders, prepared and conducted by the programme’s hosts.^[133] In February 2026, the online portal Domovina aired the podcast Volitve 2026, hosted by Vida Petrovčič. The series presented centrist and centre-right political parties and focused on themes described as being "more oriented towards the survival, future, and development of Slovenia."^[134]

Polling aggregations

Exit poll

Below is listed Mediana's demographic breakdown.

Constituency results

The SDS prevailed in five constituencies out of eight^[153], winning in Celje^[154], as well as Kranj, Novo Mesto and Ptuj^[155], where they secured their best result at 32.67% of the vote. The party also secured^[156] Maribor, Slovenia's second-largest city, with 30.75% of the vote. Conversely, the GS won the capital districts of Ljubljana Bežigrad and Ljubljana Center^[157], as well as Postojna, where they recorded their best result at 34.79% of the vote.^[155] The GS's performance represented a decline from their 2022 result, when they won all eight constituencies^[158]; however, they still secured a plurality of seats in three electoral districts: Ljubljana Center, Ljubljana Bežigrad and Novo Mesto.^[159] Conversely, the SDS won their pluralities in Ptuj and Celje, while the two parties won an even amount of delegates in Postojna, Maribor and Kranj.^[159]

Turnout

Turnout by electoral districts

More information Electoral district, Eligible voters ...

Electoral district	Eligible voters	Turnout	2026 turnout	2022 turnout	Change
Kranj	208,965	150,564	72.05 %	74.14 %	2.09 %
Postojna	209,323	137,970	65.91 %	69.56 %	3.65 %
Ljubljana – Center	221,718	158,219	71.36 %	75.26 %	3.90 %
Ljubljana – Bežigrad	210,021	143,482	68.32 %	73.63 %	4.31 %
Celje	210,609	149,449	70.96 %	71.61 %	0.65 %
Novo Mesto	217,947	149,244	68.48 %	70.36 %	1.88 %
Maribor	206,707	138,193	66.85 %	67.94 %	1.09 %
Ptuj	209,914	136,010	64.79 %	65.13 %	0.34 %

Close

Government formation

Following the election, prime minister Robert Golob said that he would try to create a government of national unity and invited all parties, except SDS, for coalition talks. This offer was rejected by NSi and its partners, the Slovenian People's Party and Focus of Marko Lotrič. Leaders of the Democrats and Resni.ca stated that they do not want to be in a government together with The Left.^[168]

On 1 April, the leaders of Democrats, Resni.ca and NSi announced that their intention to form a centre-right coalition or a "third bloc" in anticipation of imminent post-election coalition talks. This third bloc would hold 20 seats in the National Assembly and would further complicate the path to a government formation. The leader of Resni.ca, Zoran Stevanović, stated that his party would not support any government led by Janez Janša or Robert Golob, stating his preference for a repeat snap election.^[169][170] Despite this, Golob called for the will of the voters to be respected and expressed enthusiasm that the next government would be led by his party. Anže Logar, the leader of the Democrats called for Golob to announce a ministry allocation proposal.^[171]

On 7 April, Golob announced allocations of ministries in the proposed national unity government: seven for Freedom Movement, three for NSi-led coalition and two for SD, Democrats and The Left each. He also expected external cooperation with Resni.ca on some topics. The offer was rejected by NSi-led coalition. Golob also proposed individual coalition talks with these parties.^[172]

On 10 April, Resni.ca leader Zoran Stevanović was elected speaker of the National Assembly after being nominated by Resni.ca, SDS and NSi MPs. GS announced that they voted against him, while The Left and SD abstained.^[173][174]

On 12 April, newsletter Dnevnik reported that at least two MPs from the Democrats had worries about possible Janša-led government. Leader of the Democrats, Anže Logar, later stated that his party is unified and that the GS is still the only party that invited them for coalition talks.^[175]

On 17 April, Anže Logar officially stated that his party is leaving coalition talks with GS, because GS attempted to negotiate with individual MPs to cross the floor. Robert Golob responded by accusing Logar and Stevanović of cheating their own voters by giving fake pre-election promises of not entering a government led by Janša and by only pretending to have real interest in forming a possible second government led by GS. Furthermore, Golob released documents from coalition negotiations, where GS promised to fulfill all main points of the pre-election programme of the Democrats.^[176]

On 20 April, Golob admitted that he could not form a government and said that his party would go into opposition.^[177]

On 21 April, Freedom Movement announced that they were filing a constitutional complaint regarding the election of the speaker, asserting that a number of ballots used in the speakership election were visibly marked, which would allegedly be a violation of national deputies’ right to the fairness of a secret vote in the speakership election.^[178]

On 25 April, president Nataša Pirc Musar stated after finishing personal consultations with all leaders of elected parties that she would not nominate someone for prime minister, because no one reached the required minimum of 46 votes. She also said that these personal consultations had no trust, respect or honesty and that she sees a lot of changes in positions and behavior of parties after the election.^[179]

On 6 May, a new round of coalition talks were initiated by Janša, who seeks to form a coalition with NSi-SLS-FOKUS, the Democrats and Resni.ca. Although Speaker Stevanović reaffirmed that his party wouldn't join a coalition, he stated that it would "support a candidate with widespread support". However, SDS later said it did not intend to continue negotiations. If no agreement is reached on a new prime ministerial candidate, fresh elections will be held.^[180]

On 16 May, Stevanović publicly announced that Resni.ca will externally support Janez Janša for prime minister, making his fourth government possible.^[181]

On 19 May, 48 MPs endorsed Janez Janša for Prime Minister. On the same day, an MP from Resni.ca, Katja Kokot, accused left-leaning MPs of attempting to bribe MPs from Resni.ca with seven figures bribes, in order to thwart the creation of the fourth Janša government. However she did not name any concrete names or support any evidence to her claims. ^[182][183]

On 22 May, Janša was sworn in as Prime Minister. He received 51 votes in a secret ballot in the parliament, which came as surprise, because at least 1 opposition MP must have voted for Janša.^[184]

International responses

Heads of government and heads of state congratulating Janša on his election included Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni,^[185] Croatian prime minister Andrej Plenković^[186], Czech prime minister Andrej Babiš,^[187] Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko,^[188] Kosovar prime minister Albin Kurti,^[189] Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu,^[190] Austrian chancellor Christian Stocker,^[191]Montenegrin prime minister Milojko Spajić^[192]and North Macedonian prime minister Hristijan Mickoski^[193].

Other politicians and political parties to congratulate Janša included Matteo Salvini, leader of Italy's Northern League and deputy prime minister,^[194] Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of Belarus's opposition,^[195] Mateusz Morawiecki, former Polish prime minister,^[196]president of the European People's Party Manfred Weber,^[197] and Milorad Dodik the former Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina^[198].

The European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, European Council president Antonio Costa and European Parliament president Roberta Metsola all congratulated Janša and expressed wishes towards building a strong European Union.^{[199][200][201]}