Centre right poised for power in Slovenia

In Slovenia, former Prime Minister, Janez Jansa is set to lead his centre right party back to power. Polls ahead of Sunday’s snap election put the 53-year-old in the lead.

Jansa, who headed the government when the former republic of Yugoslavia joined the EU seven years ago has pledged painful reforms to tackle the countries economic woes.

He plans pension reform for the euro zone member amidst fears of a slide into recession.

The centre left party, positive Slovenia which was only founded in October is second in the polls. Its leader Zoran Jankovic has called for an increase to value-added-tax and has vowed to improve the management of state companies. The country faces a potential credit rating downgrade.

“We have so many problems it is difficult to list them all. We need to revive our economy so our companies which are now the banks’ hostages, can survive. We need to put an end to that. A new prime minister will have to spend a lot of time dealing with that problem,” explained pensioner Alojz Sever.

Slovenia was once seen as a model of successful post-communist transition. Critics say the governing coalition led by Prime Minister Borut Pahor’s Social Democrats failed to undertake vital reforms. It was voted out in September paving the way for Sunday’s poll.

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