Slovenia has nominated liberal leader Golob as its candidate for prime minister
The Slovenian president has appointed the leader of the Liberal Green Party, which won last month’s elections, as the new prime minister.
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia – The Slovenian president officially appointed the leader of the Liberal Green Party, which won last month’s elections, as the new prime minister on Monday.
President Borut Pahor’s announcement paves the way for the formation of a new government in Slovenia in the coming weeks.
On Wednesday, Slovenian deputies will vote on the appointment of Robert Golob as prime minister-designate. A separate vote will be needed to confirm Golob’s government.
Golob, a former businessman and newcomer to politics, said he intends to form a coalition government by mid-June.
In the elections on April 24, Golob’s freedom movement won a large majority of seats and defeated right-wing Prime Minister Janez Janša and his Slovenian Democratic Party. Golob promised the reform and modernization of Slovenian state institutions and the strengthening of social justice. His Movement for Freedom is supposed to form an alliance with other center-left groups.
Janša faced accusations that he had turned a small European Union country into right-wing populism. He also faced the EU’s test of allegations of pressure on the media and the takeover of state institutions by loyalists. Janša denied the accusations.