Slovenia’s populist Prime Minister Janez Jansa has suffered a heavy defeat in parliamentary elections by a left-leaning party formed only in January, the BBC has reported.
Mr Jansa’s Slovenian Democratic party took about 24% of the vote, compared to 34.5% for the Freedom Movement party led by former businessman Robert Golob.
The poll was marked by allegations that Mr Jansa has undermined the rule of law in the former Yugoslav state.
Mr Golob said his win will enable him to lead his country “back to freedom”.
An outspoken supporter of former US President Donald Trump, Mr Jansa was seeking a fourth term as prime minister and stood on a platform of “stability”.
But his critics allege that the 63-year-old, who came to prominence as a post-communist reformer, has spent several years eroding democratic standards and restricting press freedom.
He engaged in lengthy rows with the EU over his moves to cut funding for the national news agency and has sought to delay the appointment of prosecutors to the bloc’s new anti-corruption body.
Mr Golob is a political newcomer who entered politics in January after being removed as chairman of his energy investment firm.
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