Slovenia: SDS remains the strongest force in Slovenia; slight losses for the opposition (Valicon Poll from 23.02.2026)

According to Ninamedia, 6 parties are projected to surpass the electoral threshold and enter Slovenia's parliament: SDS with 31 representatives, Svoboda with 27 representatives, Levica/Vesna with 9 representatives, Demokrati with 8 representatives, NSi/SLS/FOKUS with 8 representatives and SD with 7 representatives.

The Slovenian National Assembly (Državni zbor) comprises 90 deputies, elected for four-year terms. Its electoral system employs a two-stage proportional representation model: 88 seats are allocated across eight electoral districts, each subdivided into eleven electoral units. Voters cast a ballot for a candidate in their unit, which simultaneously counts as a vote for that candidate's party. Seat allocation first occurs at the district level using the Droop quota, followed by a national-level adjustment via the D'Hondt method to ensure overall proportionality. Two seats are specifically reserved for the Italian and Hungarian minorities, elected through the Borda count (preferential voting) system.

To enter the National Assembly, Slovenia enforces a nationwide electoral threshold of 4%. Parties must secure this share of the national vote to qualify for the distribution of the 88 proportional seats. This threshold aims to stabilize Slovenia's often fragmented party system, preventing numerous smaller parties from complicating government formation. The two deputies representing national minorities are exempt from this threshold, as they are determined through separate electoral processes.

Given that the electoral system often produces a multi-party parliament, coalition governments are inevitable in Slovenia. Following an election, the President of the Republic nominates a candidate for Prime Minister to the National Assembly. The election proceeds by secret ballot, requiring an absolute majority of deputies (46 out of 90 votes). Slovenian politics frequently sees new parties, often formed just before an election ('New Faces'), achieve significant electoral success and play a pivotal role in government formation, leading to a highly dynamic political landscape.