Gov't Holds On For Now As Opposition Must Reassemble Anti-PM Coalition

The gov't of PM Janesz Jansa is set to hold onto power in the short term at least after Speaker of the National Assembly ruled that the opposition must re-gather the signatures required to force a vote of no confidence.

• Previously, the opposition Democratic Party of Pensioners (DeSUS) had amassed 42 signatures from opposition deputies in favour of a confidence vote against Jansa. The party was previously part of the gov't but resigned over what it said was a poor handling of COVID-19 pandemic (Slovenia has one of the highest rates of cases per head of population globally).
• The vote of no confidence was called off by DeSUS after several opposition parliamentarians would not have been able to vote having tested positive for COVID-19. The opposition is hoping that some deputies from the Modern Centre Party defect and vote against Jansa's gov't in order to trigger either the formation of a new administration or fresh elections.
• PM Jansa has been a long-standing figure in Slovenian politics, having served as PM from 2004-2008, 2012-2013 and again from 2020 onwards. His staunch and vocal support for former US President Donald Trump caused notable rifts with EU allies, while his siding with Poland and Hungary in confrontations with the EU in 2020 also served to stoke anti-gov't sentiment within parliament.
• To oust Jansa, the opposition will have to gain signatures for a confidence vote once again and gain the votes of 46 deputies in the 90-member National Assembly. At present the gov't and its allies hold 46 seats to the opposition's 44.