Slovenia sees 47,000 signatures for referendum on contested development law amid EU‑funded activist scrutiny

Unions and civil‑society groups in Slovenia collected more than 47,000 signatures within three and a half days to demand a referendum on the so‑called intervention law for Slovenia’s development. The initiative, which required only 2,500 signatures to be submitted to parliament, now exceeds the 40,000‑signature threshold needed to trigger a referendum. Union leader Branimir Štrukelj told the media that the law is “a law against the people, for capital and the rich, not for the development of Slovenia.” He warned that if the parliament refuses to call the referendum, the groups will turn to the constitutional court.

At the same time, Filip Dobranić, a founder of the NGO Civil Initiative "Glas ljudstva," has drawn criticism for his role in the referendum debate. Dobranić’s organization received EU funding – about €370,000 during the current Golob government and €300,000 previously – for “promotion and protection of European values.” Opponents accuse him of intimidating dissenting voices over the referendum question.