Slovenia's upcoming election represents a choice between flawed pluralism and illiberal governance that could erode democratic norms
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/ana-schnabl. "It is small, stable and a European success story. So why is Slovenia turning its back on liberalism? | Ana Schnabl | The Guardian." March 18, 2026. www.theguardian.com
The Gist
Slovenia is about to choose between keeping its current imperfect but democratic government or electing Janez Janša, who has a track record of attacking democratic institutions. With Trump-style politics now normalized globally, Janša would likely erode Slovenia's democracy gradually from within, making this election a crucial choice about the country's democratic future.
Conclusion
Slovenia's March 22 parliamentary election represents a structural choice between maintaining flawed but democratic pluralism under the current government versus risking democratic backsliding under Janez Janša's SDS party
Premises
- The current center-left government led by Robert Golob, despite imperfections, has maintained democratic institutions, media pluralism, and civil society freedoms
- Janez Janša's SDS party leads in polls and has a history of illiberal governance, including attacks on media, attempts to reshape state institutions, and confrontations with civil society during his 2020-2022 term
- The global political environment has changed since Janša's previous terms, with Trump's presidency normalizing hostility toward media and judiciary, providing a template for illiberal politicians
- Janša has adopted Trump's political style and expressed preference for governing with outright majority rather than coalition-building, signaling desire to act without democratic friction
- Illiberalism advances incrementally within legal frameworks by reshaping institutions from inside, rather than violating democratic procedures outright
- The methods, narratives, and international alliances of illiberal politics are now more consolidated than ever, providing precedent and validation for democratic erosion
Assumptions
- Democratic institutions and pluralism are inherently valuable and worth preserving
- Past behavior of political leaders is a reliable predictor of future governance
- International political trends and models influence domestic political behavior
- Incremental institutional changes can lead to significant democratic erosion over time
- Coalition governance and compromise are essential features of healthy democracy