Freedom in the World 2001 - Slovenia

2001 Scores

Status: Free
Freedom Rating: 1.5
Civil Liberties: 2
Political Rights: 1

Overview

In the year 2000 – nine years after declaring independence – Slovenia established diplomatic relations with Yugoslavia and became the first transition economy in Central and Eastern Europe to graduate from the World Bank's financial and technical assistance programs. Privatization of large state enterprises and entry into the European Union (EU) and NATO remained central goals of the nation's political leaders. In April, the ruling coalition collapsed and Prime Minister Janez Drnovsek lost power following a no-confidence vote in parliament. He returned to office after his center-left Liberal Democracy of Slovenia (LDS) party proved victorious in October parliamentary elections.

Slovenia was part of the Hapsburg empire from 1335 to 1918, at which time it became part of the new Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. It became a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia after World War II and remained a part of Communist Yugoslavia until 1991. Since then, independent Slovenia has adopted a new constitution, held four free and fair direct elections, and undertaken important economic and political reforms.

In 1990, prior to independence, the Democratic United Opposition (DEMOS) secured victory in Slovenia's first multiparty parliamentary elections, and DEMOS leader Lojze Peterle became prime minister. Voters also elected former Communist leader Milan Kucan president. They elected Kucan the president of an independent Slovenia in 1992 and again in 1997.

After parliamentary elections in 1992 and 1996, Janez Drnovsek, the last president of the former Yugoslavia, formed center-left governments led by the LDS. In April 2000, however, Drnovsek's government collapsed when the Slovenian People's Party (SLS) withdrew and he lost a confidence vote in the national assembly. The SLS joined forces with the Slovenian Christian Democrats (SKD) and nominated Andrej Bajuk, an economist and an Argentine banker of Slovenian descent, to be prime minister. Parliament approved Bajuk after three rounds of voting.

An SLS+SKD coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SDS) proved short-lived, and Bajuk broke with the new party in August to form his own – the New Slovenian Party. He stayed in power until the October parliamentary elections, when Drnovsek's LDS won 36.21 percent of the vote and formed a coalition government with the SLS+SKD, the United List of Social Democrats (ZLSD), and the Slovenian Democratic Party of Pensioners (DeSUS). Official election results were LDS, 34 seats; SDS, 14; ZLSD, 11; SLS+SKD, 9; New Slovenian, 8; DeSUS, 4; Nationalist Party, 4; Youth Party, 4.

The European Commission (EC) announced in 2000 that Slovenia continues to make progress in meeting the requirements of EU membership. Still, the EC's annual progress report urged Slovenia to improve public administration, denationalize important sectors of the economy (including banks and utilities), and increase judicial efficiency. Slovenia hopes to join the EU in 2003 and NATO in 2002. In December, the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers named Slovenia the country most suited to join the EU based on four criteria: macroeconomic stability, productivity, infrastructure, and integration with Europe.

Political Rights and Civil Liberties

Slovenia is a parliamentary democracy with independent legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. Voters can change their government under a system of universal, equal, and direct suffrage. They elect the president – largely a ceremonial post – and members of the 90-seat national assembly. Parliament chooses the prime minister. There is also a 40-seat national council, a largely advisory body that represents professional groups and local interests.

Elections in Slovenia are free and fair. Former Communist leader Milan Kucan has been the president since 1990. He is not eligible to run in the 2002 election. The LDS and Prime Minister Drnovsek have dominated Slovenia's post-Communist government for eight years. Drnovsek briefly lost power in 2000 to economist and center-right nominee Andrej Bajuk.

Parliament approved a new system of proportional representation in 2000. The new electoral code raises the threshold for securing seats from 3.2 percent to 4 percent and ends the use of preferential party lists for allocating seats to candidates who do not win direct mandates. This system guided parliamentary elections in October 2000, in which candidates from eight parties participated. When the LDS received a majority of the vote, it formed a new coalition government and returned Janez Drnovsek to the post of prime minister. The constitution entitles Italian and Hungarian ethnic communities to one deputy each in the national assembly.

The government respects the constitutional rights of freedom of speech, expression, and the press. Insulting public officials, however, is prohibited by law. The majority of print and electronic media are privately owned. State broadcaster Slovenia Radio-Television (RTV) has three radio stations and two television networks.

The constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and religion. In order to receive tax rebates, religious groups must register with the state. Approximately 70 percent of the population is Roman Catholic.

The government respects the right of individuals to assemble peacefully, form associations, participate in public affairs, and submit petitions. Military and police personnel may not join political parties. Workers enjoy the right to establish and join trade unions, to strike, and to bargain collectively.

Slovenia has an independent judiciary that consists of a supreme court, an administrative court, regional and district courts, and an appeals court. There is also a constitutional court. The constitution guarantees individuals due process, equality before the law, and a presumption of innocence until proven guilty. While the EU has criticized the judiciary for long court delays, it acknowledged efforts in 2000 to increase efficiency. These include the reorganization of courts, longer working hours, additions to personnel, financial incentives for increased productivity, the appointment of rotating judges to assist courts with high caseloads, and the introduction of minor offences that carry only warnings or fines.

Citizens of Slovenia enjoy many other personal rights and freedoms. These include the freedom to travel, move, and choose a place of residence; the right to privacy; the inviolability of the home; the right to health care and social security; and the freedom to work. The constitution provides special protection for marriage, the family, and children. It defines specific rights and obligations for parents.

Slovenia's gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is one of the highest in Central and Eastern Europe. The constitution guarantees – and the government respects – private property rights and free enterprise. Still, organizations like the World Bank, the European Commission, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development have urged Slovenia to move faster to divest itself of large state enterprises, to increase competition, and to improve the climate for foreign investment. The private sector accounts for approximately 55 percent of GDP. In January 2000, important legislation reforming the country's pay-as-you-go pension system took effect.