Slovenia to Hold Autumn Referendum on Parliamentary Inquiry Law

Citizens' groups in Slovenia have gathered 42,004 signatures, surpassing the 40,000‑signature threshold required to call a legislative referendum. The referendum, slated for the autumn, will decide on a proposed amendment to the law on parliamentary inquiries.

The amendment would remove a constitutional safeguard that currently allows the Constitutional Court to review the legality of parliamentary inquiry commissions. Opponents warn that without judicial oversight, commissions could obtain private communications, SMS messages, phone records and bank details of individuals not involved in politics, extending investigations to family members and friends. The initiative is supported by former members of the Human Rights Protection Committee, several NGOs, civil‑society movements and trade unions.