Slovenians began voting Sunday in a closely watched parliamentary election, where conservatives are hoping to regain power.
The election pits the current center-left government, led by Prime Minister Robert Golob, against a challenge from the conservative party headed by Janez Janša, a veteran politician and supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump. According to reports, Janša’s return to office could shift the two-million-person nation, a member of the European Union, back towards a more illiberal path after four years of center-left rule.
The election is taking place against a backdrop of political tension, and the outcome could have implications for Slovenia’s future direction within the EU. The country, which gained its independence in 1991, is the youngest member of the European Union. Slovenia’s historical ties to Europe and a functioning economy have allowed it to implement necessary reforms and become a modern state.
The vote comes as political divisions within Slovenia have been growing, and the election is seen as a test of the country’s democratic institutions. The results are expected to be closely contested, and a clear winner may not be immediately apparent.
