Jansa Returns to Power in Slovenia with Right-Wing Coalition

Slovenia's parliament elected Janez Jansa, leader of the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), as prime minister on Friday. His return to power was approved by 51 votes to 36.

Jansa, 67, who has led the government three times before, will head a minority right-wing coalition. The result marks a shift to the right after years of liberal rule under Robert Golob.

A well-known admirer of US President Donald Trump, Jansa has also been a close ally of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. He last served as prime minister from 2020 to 2022, when he lost the election to Golob's Freedom Movement.

April's parliamentary elections produced a tight result between SDS and the Freedom Movement, but Golob failed to form a new liberal coalition, opening the way for Jansa's return to government.

The elections were accompanied by accusations of foreign interference and corruption.

(apnews, nampa, bak)