Slovenia

Slovenia falls into the upper-middle ranks internationally (rank 9) in the category of vertical accountability.

Voting rights are universal and equal for all citizens aged 18 or older. Political parties or groups of voters can submit candidate lists. The public broadcasters must provide equal access to all parties, though nonparliamentary parties often have limited media access in practice.

Elections are seen as free and fair, with some shortcomings recently identified for voters abroad. The State Election Commission is regarded as impartial and professional in managing elections. The electoral system is based on proportional representation with a 4% threshold for parliamentary access. Media coverage during the 2022 elections faced some criticism for bias.

Parliamentary seats are reserved for Hungarian and Italian national minorities. Polarization and ideological divergence has increased in recent years, with some parties showing democratic backsliding. However, cross-party collaboration has proved possible during crises. The Law on Access to Public Information gives citizens access to official data.

Slovenia falls into the lower-middle ranks (rank 20) in the category of diagonal accountability.

The public broadcaster has undergone a period of turmoil after the government sought to exert control through appointments and by cancelling programs critical of the state. The center-left government has since reorganized the sector.

The media sector overall is marked by significant concentration, with owners often pursuing unclear agendas. Print media circulation and revenues are declining. Assembly rights are protected, and broad public protests help mobilize voters behind a change in government in 2022. The succeeding government has been more open to civil society proposals.

The country’s neocorporatist system includes representation for employers and employees through the tripartite Economic and Social Council. Social, economic, professional and local interests are also directly represented in the country’s second parliamentary house. Environmental groups have successfully mobilized public opinion on specific issues.

Slovenia falls into the upper-middle ranks (rank 9) in the area of horizontal accountability.

The independent and well-respected Court of Audit monitors the use of public funds and audits all institutions receiving public or European funds. The Office of the Information Commissioner handles complaints in the area of personal data privacy.

While most governments respect judicial independence, three-time Prime Minister Janša criticized the judiciary and contributed to declines in the rule of law. Civil rights and liberties are generally highly respected. Discrimination against same-sex couples occurs, but same-sex marriages and adoptions have been legalized.

Officeholders who break the law or engage in corruption are generally investigated, but oversight institutions’ performance is somewhat weak. A significant share of the public lacks confidence in anticorruption measures. The parliament has sufficient resources and powers to oversee the executive and help shape policy effectively.

Slovenia falls into the sample’s upper-middle ranks (rank 11) in the category of coordination.

The Prime Minister’s Office provides expert opinions, manages government work and coordinates interdepartmental cooperation. However, it does not directly involve itself in drafting ministry policies, which remain the responsibility of the ministries. The General Secretariat of the Government oversees administrative tasks and monitors policy implementation.

Communication within the government happens both formally and informally, through the government information system and via private discussions. Informal meetings between party leaders can play a significant role in shaping government processes.

The government is highly centralized, with all major administrative institutions located in the capital. There is no regional level, and municipalities have limited competences and funding. The division of responsibilities between the national and local levels can sometimes lead to conflicts, for instance with regard to responsibility for infrastructure maintenance.

In the category of consensus-building, Slovenia falls into the upper-middle ranks internationally (rank 10).

The government has established an expert advisory body focused on scientific research and innovation activities. This includes ministers and representatives from various research institutions.

Slovenia’s neocorporatist system integrates business and labor representatives into policymaking through the Economic and Social Council. This influence extends even beyond labor legislation. Social welfare groups are less influential, but are included on working groups established for specific topics.

The government elected in 2022 has been more receptive to environmental groups than its predecessor. A Climate Council has been created as an independent scientific advisory body for climate policy. The state has long had a robust open data and data reuse policy.

Slovenia falls into the lower-middle ranks internationally (rank 18) in the category of sensemaking.

Several public-sector programs aimed at exploring innovative solutions to problems have been launched. Economic analysis and statistical offices produce the data and forecasts needed for strategic processes.

Regulatory impact assessments (RIAs) have been expended to include non-financial impacts. RIAs are carried out for all primary laws and some subordinate regulations. While a development strategy has been in place since 2017, implementation has been a weak point.

The culture of ex post evaluation is comparatively underdeveloped. Most departments did not conduct any external evaluations during the review period.

Slovenia falls into the upper-middle ranks internationally (rank 11) in the category of economic sustainability.

A national circular economy policy was passed in 2018. The country has performed well compared to other EU countries. Critical infrastructure monitoring was improved with a 2017 law, though utilities and other entities continue to be subject to cyberattacks. Energy transition and climate policy measures are comprehensive, but additional action is needed to reach targets.

Active employment policy measures are specifically targeted toward youth. Income taxes are progressive, but relatively high. The corporate tax rate is among the OECD’s lowest. Environmental taxes have declined as a share of total tax revenue since 2010.

The constitution includes a fiscal rule requiring that the budget be balanced in the medium term without borrowing. Exceptions are allowed in extraordinary circumstances, which have come frequently in recent years. Public debt is moderate by EU standards. Deficits, while declining, remain relatively substantial.

Slovenia falls into the upper-middle ranks internationally (rank 9) in the category of social sustainability.

Education spending has risen, but the system faces acute staffing shortages. Student performance has declined in recent years, likely due to long pandemic-era school closures. Income inequalities are moderate by international standards, due to low wage inequalities, progressive income taxation and robust redistribution through social transfers. Employment rates are high.

The healthcare system is accessible to all. Long waiting times, staffing shortages, corruption and ongoing privatization are all challenges. The government introduced compulsory health contributions in 2024 to address some of these issues.

The constitution prohibits gender discrimination, but segregation persists in education and the labor market. The gender pay gap remains significant. Family policies are strong, and more than 80% of children attend kindergarten between the ages of 1 and 5. Despite improvements, migrants face barriers to equal access in the labor market, education and healthcare.

In the category of environmental sustainability, Slovenia falls into the sample’s upper-middle ranks (rank 11).

Environmental legislation is largely based on EU directives. The government seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 36% by 2040. Despite the country’s robust legal framework, observers say climate-policy implementation has been poor, with some sectors lacking ambition. Protests by farmers and others could slow implementation further.

Various laws seek to address air quality and pollution. However, air pollution remains a concern, and instances of drinking water pollution have emerged. The country protects a significant area of its landscape under the Natura 2000 program. It is very highly rated for protection of protection of terrestrial biomes, but species protection is weaker.

The country participates in many multilateral environmental agreements. It has a particular focus on the Alpine, Danube and Mediterranean regions.