Slovenian unions seek constitutional court review of referendum ban on intervention law

Representatives of the Slovenian free trade unions filed a request with the Constitutional Court to assess the constitutionality of the parliamentary decision that forbids a referendum on the so‑called intervention law, a package of measures aimed at addressing the energy crisis and supporting small businesses, taxation, health care and pensions. Union leader Andrej Zorko said the right to referendum is a fundamental democratic right, adding, "Brez uresničevanja te pravice ne moremo govoriti o demokraciji" (Without exercising this right we cannot speak of democracy). The unions pointed out that more than 47,000 citizens signed a petition for a post‑legislative referendum, which was blocked by the parliament's vote to ban the referendum.

The law was drafted by parties NSi, SLS, Focus, Democrats and Resni, with support from SDS, and includes lower VAT on basic food and energy, as well as reforms in taxation, social contributions, health and pension systems. The unions argue that the ban on a referendum represents an abuse of legislative power and that any restriction on direct democratic decision‑making should be justified only in exceptional cases.