President of Slovenia explained

The president of Slovenia, officially the president of the Republic of Slovenia (sl|Predsednik Republike Slovenije), is the head of state of the Republic of Slovenia. The office was established on 23 December 1991 when the National Assembly passed a new constitution after the separation of Slovenia from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Five individuals have occupied the post of president of the Republic since Slovenia achieved its independence. The incumbent is Nataša Pirc Musar, Slovenia's first female president. The president's official workplace is the Presidential Palace in Ljubljana.

Election and term of office

The president is directly elected by universal adult suffrage for a term of five years.^[2] Any Slovenian citizen of legal age (18 or more) may run for President, but may only hold office for two terms.^[2]

The president has no legally guaranteed immunity and may be impeached during their time in office.

Duties and functions

The president of the Republic is the highest representative of the Slovenian state, belonging neither to the legislative, executive, judicial, nor constitutive branches of state power. The president instead occupies a completely separate but coequal moderating branch by virtue of Article 102 of the Constitution.^[3] To this end, the president represents Slovenia abroad, fosters national unity at home, and exercises supreme command and control over the Armed Forces of Slovenia as commander-in-chief. In the performance of these functions, the president upholds the rule of law and, through their ongoing mediation and arbitration, guarantees the continuity and orderly operation of Slovenia’s democratic institutions.^[4] This stabilising and integrative role is in keeping with the president’s solemn oath taken at inauguration to “...uphold the constitutional order,…act according to my conscience and…do all in my power for the good of Slovenia”.^[5]

The Constitution of Slovenia provides for a parliamentary system of government, whereby the presidency is a predominantly ceremonial institution with limited political power.^[6] Indeed, unlike in most parliamentary republics, the president is not even the ‘’nominal’’ chief executive. Rather, the executive authority of Slovenia is implicitly vested in the Government with the prime minister as its head.^[7] The Government is nevertheless obliged by the terms of its own standing orders to keep the president fully informed on matters of state, be they foreign or domestic.^[8] Moreover, the functions conferred on the president by the Constitution and subordinate statute law require neither the countersignature of the prime minister nor the advice of the Government to be effective.^{[9] [10]} Thus, the powers and duties at the president’s disposal are generally exercised either in his or her complete discretion or, in the case of ministerial functions, in accordance with constitutional restrictions.^[11]

According to the constitution, the president is the highest representative of the state. In practice, the position is mostly ceremonial. The president can appoint high ranking officials such as the head of the Central Bank of Slovenia, but they have to be confirmed by the parliament. Among other things, the president is also the commander-in-chief of the Slovenian Armed Forces.

Ministerial functions

Convene regular sessions of the National Assembly: The president of the Republic calls elections to the National Assembly, provided a new National Assembly must be convened no sooner than two months and no later than fifteen days before the expiry of four years from the date of the first session of the previous National Assembly. If the president dissolves the National Assembly and calls for snap elections, a new National Assembly must be elected no later than two months after the dissolution of the previous one. The term of the old National Assembly otherwise comes to an end by default upon the first session of a new National Assembly, which is convoked by the president no later than twenty days after a general election.^[12]

Promulgate laws: The president of the Republic promulgates each law passed by the National Assembly within eight days of its enactment, unless the law is sooner vetoed by the National Council. The president does not have the right to refuse laws duly passed by the National Assembly and agreed to by the National Council.^[13]

Issue instruments of ratification: The president of the Republic issues instruments of ratification, whereby Slovenia expresses its consent to be bound by a treaty under international law.^[14] Despite this authority, the president's ability to refuse a treaty is limited. Treaty negotiation and conclusion is the responsibility of the Government, whereas ratification itself rests exclusively with the National Assembly.^{[15] [16]} Nevertheless, before issuing an instrument of ratification, the president may request the Constitutional Court to opine on its constitutionality. If the Constitutional Court concludes the treaty violates the Constitution, the treaty is deemed null and void. If the Constitutional Court finds the treaty is however in compliance with the Constitution, the president must issue an instrument of ratification.^[17]

Discretionary powers

Nominate the prime minister: The president of the Republic nominates for the consideration of the National Assembly a candidate for prime minister, after consultation with the leaders of the various political parties represented in the National Assembly. The National Assembly in turn elects or rejects the president’s nominee. If the National Assembly fails to elect a prime minister on the first round, the president may nominate one or more additional candidates for the consideration of the National Assembly in subsequent rounds, including a previously nominated candidate. This process continues until a prime minister is duly elected or the National Assembly is dissolved.^[18]

Dissolve the National Assembly and call snap elections: The president has plenary authority to dissolve the National Assembly before the expiration of its term and call snap elections, but only if either of the following conditions are met:

1. The National Assembly fails to elect a prime minister within 30 days from the start of a new parliamentary session;^[19] or
2. The National Assembly passes a vote of no confidence in the Government and fails to elect a new prime minister within 30 days.^[20]

Convene extraordinary sessions of the National Assembly: The president of the Republic may convene an extraordinary session of the National Assembly.^[21] The calling together of an extraordinary session of the National Assembly concurrently reconvenes the National Council, the upper house of Slovenia’s incompletely bicameral Parliament.^{[22] [23]}

Express opinions to the National Assembly: The president of the Republic may, on their own initiative or whenever requested by the National Assembly, express an opinion on any matter of national import.^[24]

List of presidents of Slovenia

Parties;

	width=180	Name	Portrait	Term of office		Political party
Presidents of the People's Assembly
1	Ferdo Kozak		30 January 1953	15 December 1953	OF
2	Miha Marinko		15 December 1953	9 June 1962	ZKS
3	Vida Tomšič		9 June 1962	25 June 1963	ZKS
5	Ivan Maček		25 June 1963	9 May 1967	ZKS
6	Sergej Kraigher		9 May 1967	1973	ZKS
7	Tone Kropušek		1973	1974	ZKS
8	Marijan Brecelj		1974	9 May 1974	ZKS
Presidents of the Presidency
9	Sergej Kraigher		9 May 1974	23 May 1979	ZKS
10	Viktor Avbelj		23 May 1979	7 May 1984	ZKS
11	France Popit		7 May 1984	6 May 1988	ZKS
12	Janez Stanovnik		6 May 1988	10 May 1990	ZKS
					SDP
13	Milan Kučan		10 May 1990	23 December 1991	SDP

Parties;

Latest election

See main article: 2022 Slovenian presidential election.

See also

• Prime Minister of Slovenia

External links

• Official site of the President of the Republic of Slovenia

Notes and References

1. Web site: Za predsedniški položaj pet tisočakov osnovne bruto plače, nekaterim pravicam sta se Pahor in Pečarjeva odrekla . sta.si . . 22 December 2022 . 26 June 2022.
2. Web site: Kako volimo predsednika države? . rtvslo.si . . 22 December 2022 . sl.
3. Web site: Article 102, Constitution of Slovenia. The Constitute Project. 2 December 2024.
4. Informal Powers by Presidents in a Small State: Semi-Presidentialism in Slovenia. Alenka Krašovec & Damjan Lajh. European Consortium for Political Research. 24 August 2018. 2 December 2024.
5. Web site: Article 104, Constitution of Slovenia. The Constitute Project. 2 December 2024.
6. News: Slowenien wählt erstmals eine Frau zum Staatsoberhaupt . 2022-11-18 . Die Zeit. 13 November 2022 . Simmons . Lennard .
7. Web site: Articles 110 and 114, Constitution of Slovenia. The Constitute Project. 2 December 2024.
8. Public Management Profiles of Central and Eastern European Countries: Slovenia. Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development. 16. September 1999. 2 December 2024.
9. Status of the President of the Republic of Slovenia in the System of Government. Part II: Powers (functions) of the President of the Republic. Miha Ribaric. Office of the President of the Republic of Slovenia. 30 May 2000. 2 December 2024.
10. Status of the President of the Republic of Slovenia in the System of Government. Part III: The President of the Republic in the system of state bodies. Miha Ribaric. Office of the President of the Republic of Slovenia. 30 May 2000. 2 December 2024.
11. Book: Semi-Presidentialism in Europe. Chapter 12: Slovenia. Robert Elgie. Miro Cerar. September 1999. 2 December 2024. 232-259.
12. Web site: Article 81, Constitution of Slovenia. The Constitute Project. 2 December 2024.
13. Web site: Article 91, Constitution of Slovenia. The Constitute Project. 2 December 2024.
14. Web site: Article 107, Constitution of Slovenia. The Constitute Project. 2 December 2024.
15. Web site: Article 86, Constitution of Slovenia. The Constitute Project. 2 December 2024.
16. Web site: The Slovenian Parliament was the only one actively involved in the EU accession negotiations. Republic of Slovenia. Government Communications Office. 7 March 2024. 2 December 2024.
17. Web site: Article 160, Constitution of Slovenia. The Constitute Project. 2 December 2024.
18. Web site: Article 111, Constitution of Slovenia. The Constitute Project. 2 December 2024.
19. Web site: Article 111, Constitution of Slovenia. The Constitute Project. 2 December 2024.
20. Web site: Article 117, Constitution of Slovenia. The Constitute Project. 2 December 2024.
21. Web site: Article 85, Constitution of Slovenia. The Constitute Project. 2 December 2024.
22. Web site: About the National Council. National Council of the Republic of Slovenia. 2 December 2024.
23. Book: Lakota, Igor . Sistem nepopolne dvodomnosti v slovenskem parlamentu (diplomska naloga) . Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana . 2006 . 62 . sl . The system of incomplete bicameralism in the Slovenian Parliament (diploma thesis) . 16 December 2010.
24. Web site: Article 107, Constitution of Slovenia. The Constitute Project. 2 December 2024.