Slovenia's populist Prime Minister Janez Jansa has suffered a heavy defeat in parliamentary elections by a left-leaning celebration formed just in January.
Mr Jansa's Slovenian Democratic party took about 24% of the vote, compared to 34.5% for the Freedom Movement party led by former business owner Robert Golob.The survey was marked by accusations that Mr Jansa has actually undermined the rule of law in the previous Yugoslav state.Mr Golob stated his win will enable him to lead his nation "back to liberty".
An outspoken fan of former US President Donald Trump, Mr Jansa was seeking a fourth term a prime minister and stood on a platform of "stability".
However his critics declare that the 63-year-old, who came to prominence as a post-communist reformer, has invested a number of years wearing down democratic requirements and limiting press liberty.
He took part in prolonged rows with the EU over his moves to cut financing for the nationwide news agency and has sought to postpone the consultation of prosecutors to the bloc's brand-new anti-corruption body.Mr Golob is a political beginner who went into politics in January after being removed as chairman of his energy investment firm.He had actually billed the election as a "referendum on democracy".
The 55-year-old renowned his success in isolation from his home after contracting Covid-19 and informed joyous supporters via livestream that "people desire change and have actually revealed their self-confidence in us as the only ones who can bring those changes".He is expected to form a governing coalition of other left-wing parties.
Turnout for the vote was considerably higher than anticipated, with some 70% of the nation's 1.7 million locals going to the polls - a boost of 18% on 2018's polls. A much tighter race had actually likewise been forecasted.
