EU’s Anti-Immigrant Contingent Swells With New Slovenian Leader

(Bloomberg) -- Slovenia extended the list of staunch nationalists heading European Union member-states by confirming Janez Jansa as its new prime minister.

Jansa, a 61-year-old political veteran who’s served two previous stints as premier, was approved Tuesday by parliament. His anti-immigrant platform places him alongside the likes of Poland’s Jaroslaw Kaczynski and Hungary’s Viktor Orban, who he counts as an ally.

The EU is unlikely to relish the prospect of another firebrand leader on its eastern flank, where democratic backsliding has prompted clashes with Brussels. The change of government comes as Slovenia, a euro-area country of 2.1 million people, uneasily awaits the arrival of the coronavirus from Italy -- its Alpine neighbor.

Jansa’s appointment follows the January resignation of his predecessor, Marjan Sarec, who sought to trigger early elections and capitalize on high poll ratings. In the end, some of his coalition allies defected to Jansa rather than be shut out of parliament altogether by a snap vote.

Between 1,000 and 2,000 protesters turned out Friday in Ljubljana against Jansa’s Slovenian Democratic Party and the others that enabled his return to power after previously pledging not to work with him. Participants shouted “we want elections -- we don’t want Jansa.”

It’s not the first time he’s faced demonstrations. He was forced to step down in 2013 amid fury at a double-dip recession and corruption allegations that sent him to prison before the conviction was quashed.

The economy is in better shape now, boasting steady growth and a budget surplus. Jansa has 15 days to select his cabinet and face a confidence motion in parliament.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jan Bratanic in Ljubljana at jbratanic@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Irina Vilcu at isavu@bloomberg.net, Andrew Langley

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.