Originally posted May 26, 2020.
Ali Zerdin reports at the Washington Times on Janez Jansa’s elevation to the post of Prime Minister of a coalition government in Slovenia. Jansa is from the hardline anti-immigrant Democratic Party, and an ally of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Organ. He writes (abridged):
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) – Slovenia’s new, right-leaning government was sworn in on Friday, pledging stronger efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.
The 90-member parliament voted 52-31 to approve a coalition government led by Prime Minister Janez Jansa, leader of the anti-immigrant Slovenian Democratic Party and an ally of Hungary’s hardline Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Jansa’s predecessor, Prime Minister Marjan Sarec, was a rare liberal head of government in Central and Eastern Europe. He announced he was stepping down in January, citing lack of support for his minority government.
Sarec, a former actor and comedian, had called for an early election, but his two former coalition partners instead agreed to form a new government with Jansa.
Jansa served twice as the prime minister in the past
Jansa’s SDS won the most votes in the 2018 parliamentary election, but other groups in parliament initially refused to cooperate with the party because of its right-wing policies. Analysts in Slovenia say Jansa somewhat has toned down his rhetoric to position himself as an acceptable political figure.
If you’re willing to fight for Main Street America, click here to sign up for my free weekly email.