Slovenia

Slovenia

“…Of several ongoing debates on institutional changes, including the drawing up of political regions in Slovenia (see Fink‐Hafner , ), the proposed change to the rules on referenda (see Fink‐Hafner , ) and attempts to prohibit MPs from holding dual mandates (simultaneously being mayors and MPs) (see Fink‐Hafner , ), only the last one was actually successful in 2011 (via a law adopted in May 2011). Further, an attempt to adopt a media law, whose aims included establishing a Media Council responsible for monitoring the media's compliance with professional standards (to be appointed by the National Assembly), was rejected not only by journalists' associations but also by the National Assembly in July 2011 (for more, see Lajh ).…”

“…Eventually, this political struggle led to the adoption of the Law on Amending the Protection of Documents and Archives and Archival Institutions Act, which would have allowed access to documents that would possibly also be incriminating for opposition leader Janša. Even the two laws that had been adopted in order to deal with the economic and financial crisis (for more, see Fink‐Hafner , ) were swallowed up amid the left‐right political bloc struggle, with trade unions in fact taking the same side as the centre‐right opposition. Accordingly, on 25 June, the Law on the Prevention of Illegal Work and Employment and the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance were tested at the referenda.…”

Slovenia

“…Although the questions of drawing the political regions in Slovenia (see Fink‐Hafner 2010) and the proposed change to the rules on referenda (for an historical background, see Fink‐Hafner 2007) both remained on the agenda, neither was resolved during 2010. Due to the misuse of referenda by political parties, the idea even emerged to hold a referendum on the referenda.…”

“…In 2010, an attempt to forbid the dual mandates of MPs (being at the same time mayors and MPs) (see Fink‐Hafner 2010) failed in spite of the fact that the law introducing this division was part of an agreement of the ruling coalition. Failure occurred due to the obstruction by MPs/mayors (including those from the party of the Prime Minister).…”

“…The idea for a second republic, presented by the opposition party, the Slovenian Democratic Party, in 2009 (Fink‐Hafner 2010) gained more public attention during the year 2010, but was not put on the institutional agenda.…”