Slovenia on the Brink: NATO Exit Referendum Threatens to Blow Up the Ruling Coalition!
Slovenia is shaking with political turmoil that could lead to the collapse of the ruling coalition and snap parliamentary elections nearly a year before the current mandate ends! All because of the fire ignited around defense spending and announcements of a referendum on leaving NATO.
Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar is not holding back, calling on politicians to act responsibly. “We shouldn’t jump from one decision to another,” she warns, urging calm and dialogue among all parties. But is it already too late?
It all started when the Slovenian parliament, on the proposal of the Left party from the ruling coalition, supported holding an advisory referendum on increasing defense spending. Prime Minister Robert Golob signed a NATO summit declaration to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2025, a significant jump from Slovenia’s earlier resolution of 3% GDP.
But reactions came fast. The Freedom Movement, the largest party in the ruling coalition to which the Prime Minister belongs, announced it will submit a proposal next week to the National Assembly to hold a referendum on Slovenia’s exit from NATO. “The real question is that citizens deserve answers,” they say.
Opposition leader Janez Janša of the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) tries to calm nerves, telling citizens that leaving NATO requires a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, which the current government does not have. But is that enough to stop the political earthquake?
Polls show SDS as the strongest opposition party with 23.8% support, while the Freedom Movement holds second place with 16.4%. Disagreements over defense spending and NATO seriously shake the ruling coalition, and many fear this could lead to early elections.
This situation casts a shadow of uncertainty over Slovenia’s future and its position in NATO. Will politicians calm down and find a compromise, or will the country head down a path no one expected? One thing is clear — the drama is just beginning!
So, what do you think? Is a referendum on leaving NATO a smart move or a reckless political game? Drop your thoughts and let the conversation roll!
