Slovenia’s strained relations with Israel are set to rapidly improve with right-wing populist Janez Janša expected to return to power in the coming days.
The formation of a new coalition government comes two months after an election which has left current premier Robert Golob struggling to hold on to office.
Under his leadership, the nation’s foreign policy has taken a critical stance on Israeli military operations in Gaza.
In May 2024, Slovenia joined several European countries in recognizing the “State of Palestine,” a move Israel opposed, saying it undermined efforts to reach a negotiated settlement.
Israel ally Golob, 59, said at the time: “The government has made a decision to recognize the State of Palestine as an independent and sovereign state within the borders from 1967, or the borders that the parties involved should agree on in a future peace agreement.”
In December 2024, Slovenia’s public broadcaster called on the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to exclude Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest and in 2025, the country joined several European nations in boycotting the contest after Israel was cleared to participate.
In 2025, Slovenia imposed a ban on arms trade with Israel over the war in Gaza.
This would be Janša’s fourth term as Slovenia’s prime minister.
The 67-year-old previously served terms as prime minister in 2004-8, 2012-13 and 2020-22.
He has received a formal nomination from lawmakers of his party, the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) and is expected to lead a coalition government that will incorporate other right-leaning factions.
Last March, Golob’s party won 29 seats in Slovenia’s 90-seat parliament to Janša's 28, and did not secure enough support to form a government.
Janša told Slovenian media that “the conditions are ripe” for a political change in the country. He has also said he would “restore Slovenian values,” and promote “traditional family” values.
A parliamentary vote could come as early as tomorrow (Friday).
National Assembly Speaker Zoran Stevanović said he expected “no surprises,” arguing that the coalition already had the numbers needed to secure the politician’s return to office.
Janša is an admirer of US President Donald Trump and is also known as an anti-immigration hard-liner and who has threatened to cut funding for NGOs.
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