This is according to preliminary results from the National Electoral Commission, with 99.2 percent of the votes counted.
The right-wing Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), led by former Prime Minister Janez Janša, held a narrow lead over the liberal Movement for Freedom (GS) led by incumbent Prime Minister Robert Golob during the vote count in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, the election commission reported.
With most of the votes counted, it appeared that no party - even with existing coalition partners - would win the 46 seats needed for a majority in the 90-member parliament, making smaller parties that cross the 4 percent threshold potential election makers.
Based on 82.32 percent of ballots counted, SDS won 29 seats, closely followed by GS with 28 seats. Together with the SDS-supporting parties, Janša's coalition would have 44 seats and GS's coalition would have 39 seats.
Polls had previously shown Golob's party leading, prompting celebrations among his supporters.
"We have done a great job, a great campaign, and Slovenia will move in the right direction," said Miha Lamut, a candidate for the GS party. "Of course, forming a new government will be a challenge, but we are not afraid of it."
Janša said he would not accept a minority government.
Both camps have argued that the elections will determine Slovenia's future path. Under Golob, the country is pushing for a liberal, pro-European democracy focused on social reforms and a foreign policy in line with European countries that have backed an independent Palestinian state and imposed an arms embargo on Israel.
Janša wants to introduce tax breaks for businesses and cut funding for NGOs, social welfare and the media. He is also an ally of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and a big supporter of US President Donald Trump, marking a shift in the country's international orientation.
"We can wait, but the question is whether Slovenia can wait (four more years)," said Janša, who accused Golob's government of corruption.
As voters went to the polls on Sunday, long queues formed at petrol stations after Golob's government imposed restrictions on fuel purchases at the pumps on Sunday, partly caused by cross-border refuelling and stockpiling in the wake of the Iran war.
The election campaign heated up this month when undercover videos were posted on an anonymous website that allegedly exposed corruption in the government.
A scandal involving representatives of the Israeli private spy firm Black Cube, which was alleged to have influenced the Slovenian elections, also surfaced.
(reuters, im)