President of Slovenia

President of the Republic of Slovenia
Predsednik Republike Slovenije
Flag of the President
Incumbent Nataša Pirc Musar since 23 December 2022
Office of the President of the Republic
Style	Madam President (Slovene: Gospa predsednica) (informal) Her Excellency (Slovene: Njena ekscelenca) (diplomatic)
Type	Head of state
Member of	National Security Council (upon invitation of the Prime Minister)
Reports to	National Assembly
Residence	None
Seat	Gregorčičeva 25 1000 Ljubljana Predsedniška palača
Appointer	Popular vote
Term length	Five years, renewable once
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Slovenia
Inaugural holder	Milan Kučan
Formation	10 May 1990 (1990-05-10) (de facto) 23 December 1991 (1991-12-23) (de jure)
Deputy	Speaker of the National Assembly (as acting president)
Salary	€5,419 monthly
Website	Official website

The president of Slovenia, officially the president of the Republic of Slovenia (Slovene: 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. Any Slovenian citizen of legal age (18 or more) may run for President, but may only hold office for two terms.

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. 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. 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”.

The Constitution of Slovenia provides for a parliamentary system of government, whereby the presidency is a predominantly ceremonial institution with limited political power. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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.

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.

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. 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. 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.

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.

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; 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.

Convene extraordinary sessions of the National Assembly

The president of the Republic may convene an extraordinary session of the National Assembly. 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.

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.

Represent Slovenia in foreign relations

The president of the Republic appoints and recalls Slovenian ambassadors and envoys, accepts the credentials of foreign diplomats accredited to Slovenia, receives foreign heads of state visiting Slovenia, and pays state visits abroad. In the performance of these duties, the president by convention consults the Government in order to ensure a coordinated and effective foreign policy. The president is nevertheless not obliged to follow any of the Government’s recommendations and make act contrary to such recommendations.

Issue decrees in times of national crisis

The president of the Republic may, at the request of the Government, issue decrees with the force of law. Said decrees may, in exception, restrict individual human rights and fundamental freedoms guaranteed by Article 16 of the Constitution. The president’s authority to make such decrees is only valid when the National Assembly is unable to convene and a state of war or emergency has been invoked. The president may accept or refuse the Government’s request. By virtue of Article 33 of the National Assembly Act, the speaker of the National Assembly is required to inform the president whenever it is unable to convene.

Nominate justices of the Constitutional Court

The president of the Republic nominates for the consideration of the National Assembly the nine justices of the Constitutional Court, who each serve staggered nonrenewable terms of nine years. The National Assembly in turn confirms or rejects the candidates so nominated.

Nominate members of the Judicial Council

The president of the Republic nominates for the consideration of the National Assembly five out of the eleven members of the Judicial Council. Nominees must be university professors of law, senior counsel, or attorneys accepted to the State Bar. The National Assembly in turn confirms or rejects the candidates so nominated. Members of the Judicial Council serve staggered terms of six years upon confirmation, with either two or three of the presidentially nominated members subject to appointment every three years.

Nominate and appoint certain other state officials

The president of the Republic nominates for the consideration of the National Assembly the governor of the Central Bank of Slovenia, the judges of the Court of Audit, the Human Rights Ombudsman, and the Slovenian judge on the European Court of Human Rights. The National Assembly in turn confirms or rejects the candidates so nominated. If confirmed, the nominees are formally appointed to office by the president.

List of presidents of Slovenia

Socialist Republic of Slovenia

Parties;   KPS / ZKS   OF   SDP

No.	Name (Birth–Death)	Portrait	Term of office		Political party
Presidents of the People's Assembly 1953–1974
1	Ferdo Kozak (1894–1957)		30 January 1953	15 December 1953	OF
2	Miha Marinko (1900–1983)		15 December 1953	9 June 1962	ZKS
3	Vida Tomšič (1913–1998)		9 June 1962	25 June 1963	ZKS
5	Ivan Maček (1908–1993)		25 June 1963	9 May 1967	ZKS
6	Sergej Kraigher (1914–2001)		9 May 1967	1973	ZKS
7	Tone Kropušek (1928–2017)		1973	1974	ZKS
8	Marijan Brecelj (1910–1989)		1974	9 May 1974	ZKS
Presidents of the Presidency 1974–1991
9	Sergej Kraigher (1914–2001)		9 May 1974	23 May 1979	ZKS
10	Viktor Avbelj (1914–1993)		23 May 1979	7 May 1984	ZKS
11	France Popit (1921–2013)		7 May 1984	6 May 1988	ZKS
12	Janez Stanovnik (1922–2020)		6 May 1988	10 May 1990	ZKS
(12)					SDP
13	Milan Kučan (born 1941)		10 May 1990	23 December 1991	SDP

Republic of Slovenia

Parties;   ZLSD / SD   LDS   Independent

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Political Party	Elected
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
Presidents 1991–present
1		Milan Kučan (born 1941)	23 December 1991	22 December 2002	10 years, 364 days	SD Independent	1990 1992 1997
2		Janez Drnovšek (1950–2008)	22 December 2002	23 December 2007	5 years, 1 day	LDS Independent	2002
3		Danilo Türk (born 1952)	23 December 2007	22 December 2012	4 years, 365 days	Independent	2007
4		Borut Pahor (born 1963)	22 December 2012	22 December 2022	10 years	SD Independent	2012 2017
5		Nataša Pirc Musar (born 1968)	23 December 2022	Incumbent	1 year, 348 days	Independent	2022

Latest election

Main article: 2022 Slovenian presidential election

See also

• Prime Minister of Slovenia

External links

• Official site of the President of the Republic of Slovenia