The Republic of Slovenia is a representative democracy. Its governmental structure includes administrative regions, and executive, legislative and judicial branches.

Political System

The Republic of Slovenia is considered a parliamentary representative democratic republic, with the seat of government centered in the capital city, Ljubljana. The country gained its independence from Yugoslavia on June 25, 1991, and celebrates Statehood Day on that day.

Slovenia’s current constitution was originally adopted on December 23, 1991. The document allows for universal suffrage at 18 years of age, or 16 years of age, if employed.

Administrative Regions

The Republic of Slovenia is divided into 182 municipalities and 11 urban municipalities. These governmental units exist in the following three types of regions:

Traditional Regions - The traditional Slovenian regions are based on the former Habsburg crown lands of Carniola, Carinthia, Styria, and Littoral:

• Upper Carniola (Gorenjska)
• Styria (Štajerska)
• Prekmurje (Prekmurje)
• Carinthia (Koroska)
• Inner Carniola (Notranjska)
• Lower Carniola (Dolenjska)
• Goriška (Goriska)
• Slovenian Istria (Slovenska Istra)

Natural Regions - The country consists four natural geographic regions:

• Alpine
• Mediterranean
• Dinaric
• Pannonian

Statistical Regions - Slovenia’s statistical regions exist solely for legal and statistical purposes:

• Gorenjska
• Goriska
• Jugovzhodna Slovenija
• Koroska
• Notranjsko-kraska
• Obalno-kraska
• Osrednjeslovenska
• Podravska
• Pomurska
• Savinjska
• Spodnjeposavska
• Zasavska

Executive Branch

The President is Slovenia’s chief of state. This person is elected by popular vote to a five year term, and is eligible for a second term. Danilo Tuerk won the 2007 Presidential election, and is expected to be sworn in on December 22, 2007. His predecessor, Janez Drnovsek, held the office for five years, but chose not to run for a second term.

The head of government is the Prime Minister. Following National Assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition is typically appointed to this position by the President and elected by the Assembly. Current Prime Minister Janez Jansa began his official duties on November 9, 2004.

All members of the Council of Ministers are nominated by the Prime Minister and elected by the National Assembly. The current ministers are:

• Agriculture, Forestry and Food - Iztok Jarc
• Culture - Vasko Simoniti
• Defense - Karl Erjavec
• Economy - Andrej Vizjak
• Education and Sport - Milan Zver
• Environment and Spatial Planning - Janez Podobnik
• Finance - Andrej Bajuk
• Foreign Affairs - Dimitrji Rupel
• Health - Zofija Mazej Kukovic
• Higher Education, Science and Technology - Mojca Kucler Dolinar
• Interior - Dragutin Mate
• Justice - Lovro Sturm
• Labor, Family and Social Affairs - Marjeta Cotman
• Public Administration - Gregor Virant
• Transport - Radovan Zerjav

Unassigned ministers include Ivan Zagar, in charge of Local Self-Government and Regional Policy, and Ziga Turk, responsible for Growth.

Legislative Branch

The Slovenian Parliament is a bicameral body consisting of the 90-seat National Assembly (Drzavni Zbor) and the 40-seat National Council (Drzavni Svet). Forty members of the National Assembly are directly elected while the other 50 are elected on a proportional basis. All National Assembly members serve four year terms. National Council members are indirectly elected via electoral college to serve five year terms.

The current structure of the National Assembly, by political party is (number of seats):

• Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) - 29
• Liberal Democratic Party (LDS) - 23
• Social Democrats (SD - formerly ZLSD) - 10
• New Slovenia (NSi) - 9
• Slovene People's Party (SLS) - 7
• Slovene National Party (SNS) - 6
• Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia (DeSUS) - 4
• Hungarian Minority - 1
• Italian Minority - 1

Judicial Branch

The country’s judicial branch consists of the Supreme and Constitutional Courts. Supreme Court judges are recommended by the Judicial Council and elected by the National Assembly. Constitutional Court judges are nominated by the President and elected by the National Assembly for nine year terms.

Legal System

The Slovenian legal system is based on civil law. The country has not accepted compulsory International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction.

References

Barrientos, Miguel. Index Mundi. 2007.

Government of the Republic of Slovenia Official Website.

President of the Republic of Slovenia Official Website.

Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia Official Website.