Slovenian voters rejected a government-backed law expanding parliamentary inquiry powers in a binding referendum on Sunday, dealing a setback to Prime Minister Janez Janša’s reform agenda.
With 99 percent of votes counted, 51 percent opposed the proposal, while 49 percent supported it, according to France 24 with AFP . The State Election Commission reported 51.06 percent of voters cast ballots against the law, with 911,014 valid votes counted .
The law, passed by parliament on May 26, would have required individuals summoned to testify before inquiries to appear immediately, with no right to challenge the summons in court until the commission’s work concluded. Opposition groups, including former Prime Minister Robert Golob, had warned the measure risked creating a "political police" and undermined democratic standards . The referendum was triggered by 44,619 voter signatures collected after the law’s adoption .
Turnout reached 53.7 percent, the highest ever for a Slovenian referendum, according to partial results . Janša’s coalition had framed the law as a tool to strengthen anti-corruption efforts, while critics argued it removed essential legal safeguards .
