Slovenia's parliament has voted to return veteran right-wing politician Janez Janša to the premiership, marking a significant political shift for the small Central European EU member state. In a secret ballot held in Ljubljana on Friday, 51 of the assembly's 90 members voted in favour of Janša's appointment, ending a two-month political stalemate that followed inconclusive March elections. He will now serve his fourth term as prime minister, having previously led the country from 2004 to 2008, 2012 to 2013, and 2020 to 2022.

Janša's path back to power came despite his Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) narrowly finishing second in the March 22 elections, winning 29 seats to the 29 secured by outgoing liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob's Freedom Movement — one account gives SDS 28 seats to Freedom Movement's 29. Golob's bloc was ultimately unable to assemble a parliamentary majority, opening the door for Janša to build a coalition. On Thursday, the SDS signed a coalition agreement with New Slovenia – Christian Democrats, the Slovenian People's Party, the Democrats party and Fokus, giving the new government 43 seats. The coalition also secured external support from Resnica, a party that critics have described as pro-Russian and anti-vaccine, which will back the government in votes without formally joining it — an arrangement that has drawn criticism from observers.

In his address to parliament before the vote, the 67-year-old Janša pledged to shape Slovenia into "a country of opportunity, prosperity, and justice". His government's programme centres on economic reform, tax cuts — including for higher earners — reduced bureaucracy, the fight against corruption and crime, and decentralisation. The coalition also plans to end state subsidies for NGOs, introduce mandatory drug testing for civil servants, and ban mobile phones in schools. Janša will need to return to parliament within 15 days for a further vote to confirm his Cabinet.

Janša's return carries broader European significance. His election adds another outspoken right-wing voice to the EU's senior leadership, following the recent departure from office of Hungary's Viktor Orbán, a close former ally of Janša's. Janša is also known as a strong admirer of US President Donald Trump and a staunch supporter of Israel; he was a vocal critic of the Golob government's 2024 decision to recognise a Palestinian state. According to Marko Lovec, a political science professor at the University of Ljubljana, the new coalition is generally pro-European, NATO-friendly and pro-Ukraine, and is expected to align Slovenia's foreign policy more closely with Washington.

Janša's return is not without controversy. During his previous terms, he faced serious accusations of undermining press freedom, judicial independence and civil society, prompting EU scrutiny and street protests — and demonstrators gathered outside parliament again on Friday. His new government's plans to cut NGO funding have revived those concerns among media advocates and democracy watchdogs. Additionally, Janša's election campaign has been shadowed by allegations that he cooperated with Israeli private intelligence firm Black Cube to manufacture a perception of corruption around the Golob government using edited video clips — a charge that outgoing Prime Minister Golob has described as "betrayal" of the country. Janša has not been convicted of any wrongdoing in connection with these allegations.