[CLSTR]
< Back to situation

[REVISION HISTORY]

Slovenia's referendum battles deepen

Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-04 21:58 UTC → 2026-08-06 11:39 UTC · added removed

Civil‑society groups and opposition parties have intensified their push for referendums on two contested laws. Left‑wing MP Luke Mesec warned that the Intervention Law could cost more than €1 billion and urged a consultative referendum, echoing union leader Branimir Štrukelj’s claim that the bill creates a large fiscal hole and harms pensions. A Valicon poll (May 13) found 43 % of Slovenians oppose the law while 34 % support it. Unions and NGOs collected over 47 000 signatures within days, surpassing the 40 000‑signature threshold needed to trigger a post‑legislative referendum. The same momentum fed a second drive by the KSS PERGAM federation, while a separate local petition sought to repeal a new traffic‑parking ordinance in Ljubljana. Unions filed a request with the Constitutional Court to review the parliamentary ban on a referendum on the Intervention Law; business and agricultural groups later urged the court to rule quickly, arguing that prolonged uncertainty harms investment. The Court scheduled a hearing (July 23) and on August 4 voted 7‑1 to overturn the ban, clearing the way for a referendum on the development law. Parallel efforts on the parliamentary‑inquiry amendment progressed: citizens’ groups gathered 42 004 signatures (July 7) and, The law, passed in May with backing from NSi, SLS, Focus, Democrats, Resnica and SDS, would lower VAT to 9.5 % on July 21, submitted 44 600 signatures, aiming electricity, gas, district heating and firewood and to remove the Constitutional Court’s pre‑emptive review of inquiry commissions. The referendum 5 % on this amendment is slated certain foods, while introducing a social cap on pension and health contributions. Critics, led by union head Branimir Štrukelj, argue the measures will not reduce food prices and will benefit the wealthy, labeling it a "law for autumn 2026, alongside the pending vote on rich." Financial estimates warn of a budget shortfall of roughly €571 million, with the Intervention Law. health fund losing about €96 million annually and the pension fund over €640 million per year.

Versions

  1. 2026-08-06 11:39 UTC Slovenia's referendum battles deepen
  2. 2026-08-04 21:58 UTC Slovenia's referendum battles deepen

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.