Slovenian PM moves to opposition, slams “coalition of fraudsters”

Slovenian PM Robert Golob said after talks with President Nataša Pirc Musar that the Freedom Movement was "looking forward to being in the opposition". He labelled the potential centre-right coalition as a "coalition of fraudsters" that will be short-lived.

Golob said he was unable to form a coalition to establish a new government cabinet in Slovenia following recent elections in which his party won by a narrow margin, STA reports.

“Therefore, we are happily preparing to work in opposition and are already stating today that we will strictly adhere to the principle of the rule of law and expect the same from everyone else,” Golob said.

Golob’s liberal Freedom Movement came second in the election, securing 29 seats in parliament—one more than the right-wing Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), led by Janez Janša.

Earlier this month, the parliament's inaugural session elected a lawmaker from an anti-establishment party as speaker, backed by Janša's conservatives and an ally.

President Nataša Pirc Musar has to propose a prime minister designate to parliament within 30 days of its 10 April inaugural session.

If the candidate does not get a majority, the law sets a 10-day deadline for parties to propose a new candidate.

By Vafa Guliyeva