Slovenia prepares referendum on parliamentary investigation law amendment

Around 44,600 signatures were submitted to the Slovenian Parliament by a group of former human‑rights committee members—including Franco Juri, Pavel Gantar, Spomenka Hribar, Gregor Tomc, Rastko Močnik, Igor Vidmar and Vlado Miheljak—calling for a referendum on a proposed amendment to the law on parliamentary investigations. The amendment would limit the ability of individuals under investigation to challenge the decision to investigate before the Constitutional Court, effectively removing a safeguard that allows a prior constitutional assessment of the investigation’s legitimacy.

The initiators framed the vote as a broader struggle between democracy and authoritarianism, warning that the change could turn Slovenia into an “authoritarian and repressive state.” Prime Minister Janez Janša was quoted as saying he had “thrown a gauntlet at democratic society, civil NGOs, trade unions and the media.” The referendum is expected to be held in late September or early October, with campaign organisers seeking support from civil‑society groups, trade unions and opposition parties.