Slovenian voters narrowly reject expanded parliamentary inquiry powers
In a binding referendum, Slovenians voted down a government proposal to broaden the authority of parliamentary inquiry commissions. With nearly all ballots counted, 51 percent opposed the measure and 49 percent supported it. The result weakens Prime Minister Janez Jansa, whose opponents described his reform program as authoritarian.
The referendum was binding. With 99 percent counted, 51 percent rejected the measure and 49 percent backed it. The bill would have made people summoned by parliamentary inquiry commissions appear immediately and prevented court challenges until those commissions finished. Opponents said this risked forcing disclosure of sensitive information and compared it to a force policing politics.
Turnout reached 53.7 percent, described as Slovenia's highest ever for a referendum. Jansa became prime minister after Robert Golob failed to form a government despite his party's narrow March election win. Jansa has proposed cutting public-sector jobs and funding for rights groups.
The narrow result may deepen political polarization in Slovenia. Parliamentary inquiry commissions, witnesses, public-sector workers, and rights groups could be affected if similar proposals return. Because the vote was binding, the immediate effect is to preserve existing court safeguards for those summoned. The high turnout may signal heightened public engagement with democratic checks, though the close margin could leave both government supporters and opponents feeling unsettled.