Freedom in the World 2004 - Slovenia

Political Rights: 1
Civil Liberties: 1
Status: Free
Population: 2,000,000
GNI/Capita: $17,367
Life Expectancy: 76
Religious Groups: N/A
Ethnic Groups: N/A
Capital: Ljubljana

Overview

Slovenia continued to make steady progress in 2003 toward joining Euro-Atlantic institutions, as referendums held in March on entering the European Union (EU) and NATO passed with large majorities.

The territory now constituting Slovenia was part of the Hapsburg Empire from 1335 to 1918. At the end of World War I, Slovenia became a part of the new Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929), and after World War II, it became a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In 1990, Slovenia held its first postwar, multiparty, democratic elections, in which the Democratic United Opposition (DEMOS) secured victory. Voters also elected former Communist leader Milan Kucan president. Kucan was reelected in Slovenia's first post-independence polls in 1992, and again in 1996.

Slovenian society has enjoyed remarkable consensus in the post-independence period in comparison with the other former Yugoslav republics. Citizens agree that foreign policy should focus on Slovenia's entering European and trans-Atlantic organizations, and domestic policy on maintaining a social-democratic model. For most of the this period, Slovenia has been ruled by center-left governments whose most important component has been Janez Drnovsek's Liberal Democratic Party (LDS).

Slovenia's latest presidential elections were held over two rounds in 2002. In the first round, held in November, Drnovsek gained 44.3 percent of the vote. He comfortably outdistanced his nearest rival, Slovenian state prosecutor, but political newcomer, Barbara Brezigar of the Social Democratic Party (SDS), who gained 30.7 percent. In the second-round runoff in December, Brezigar secured surprisingly strong support, winning 43 percent of the vote, although that was not enough to defeat Drnovsek's 56 percent. Seventy-one percent of the electorate turned out to vote in the first round of the elections and 65 percent for the second round.

In March, Slovenes voted in referendums on both EU and NATO accession, and the electorate approved the measures by large margins, with 89.61 percent in favor of joining the EU and 66.95 in favor of joining NATO. Slovenia is scheduled to join the two organizations in 2004.

Nevertheless, as Slovenia's media began to discuss the pros and cons of membership over the subsequent months, it became clearer to the public that EU membership would not be a panacea for many of the economic problems facing the country. In addition, many citizens have voiced strong concerns over the fate of Slovenian identity in the EU, given that Slovenes will constitute only 2.7 percent of the new, enlarged union and will have only 7 of the 732 seats in the European parliament. Issues of cultural and national survival in Slovenia receive considerable prominence, especially given widespread concern over the nation's low fertility rate.

The votes on EU and NATO accession were only part of a series of referendums held in Slovenia during the course of the year. By September, the public had participated in five referendums to voice their views on, among other issues, whether to privatize railways and telecommunications systems and whether to allow stores to be open on Sundays. By the fifth such referendum, however, electoral turnout was less than 30 percent.

Also in September, Slovenia officially ended compulsory military service, in accordance with plans to professionalize the military. The new plan calls for the military call to be downsized to a 14,000-strong force.

One outstanding human rights issue in Slovenia that continued to cause problems in 2003 was the fate of the "erased": non-Slovene citizens of the former Yugoslavia who remained in Slovenia after independence, but who were administratively removed from all official records after they failed to apply for citizenship during a brief period in 1992. The "erased" were subsequently denied driver's licenses, access to state health care, and pensions. Under pressure from the EU, the Slovenian government began drafting legislation to restore these rights, but no changes to legislation had been adopted as of November 30.

Slovenia's major foreign policy problem in 2003 was with its southern neighbor, Croatia, over the latter's moves to declare an exclusive economic zone in the Adriatic, which would effectively cut off Slovenia's access to international waters. Evidence of the extent to which passions became inflamed in the two former Yugoslav republics over the issue was seen in a poll released in a Croatian newsweekly over the summer, which showed that the largest number of respondents to the question "Who is Croatia's worst neighbor?" answered "Slovenia."

Political Rights and Civil Liberties

Citizens of Slovenia can change their government democratically. Voters directly elect the president and members of the 90-seat National Assembly (parliament), which chooses the prime minister. The 40-seat National Council, a largely advisory body, represents professional groups and local interests. The political opposition to the government plays a constructive, cooperative role in public policy making. Elections held in 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2002 have been considered free and fair.

The government respects the constitutional rights of freedom of speech and of the press, although insulting public officials is prohibited by law. Most print media outlets are privately owned and support themselves with advertising revenues. Some electronic media outlets, such as Slovenia Radio-Television (RTV), remain state-owned. RTV has three radio stations and two television networks. A major complaint against the various media is that they do not represent a wide range of political or ethnic interests. There are also reports of some degree of self-censorship resulting from indirect political or economic pressures on media outlets. There were no reports of government attempts to restrict access to the Internet during the year.

The constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and religion. The most outstanding issue over the past several years regarding religious freedom has been the consistent refusal of authorities to allow the small Muslim community to build a mosque in Ljubljana. Restitution of religious properties confiscated during the Communist period is nearing its end. According to published reports, 86 percent of claims filed by religious organizations for de-nationalization of their property were resolved by the end of September 2003. There were no reports of government restrictions on academic freedom during the year.

The government respects the right of individuals to assemble peacefully, to form associations, to participate in public affairs, and to submit petitions. Military and police personnel may not join political parties. Workers enjoy the right to establish and join trade unions, to strike, and to bargain collectively.

According to the EU, the Slovenian judiciary enjoys "a high degree of independence." The judiciary consists of the Supreme Court, an administrative court, regional and district courts, and an appeals court, and there is also a Constitutional Court. The constitution guarantees individuals due process, equality before the law, and a presumption of innocence until proven guilty. The main problem facing the judicial system is the fact that it is overburdened, with some criminal cases taking two to five years. Prison conditions are in line with international standards, although some overcrowding has been reported.

Slovenia's treatment of ethnic minorities is generally considered to be good. Incitement to racial hatred is prohibited under the Criminal Code. The constitution entitles Italian and Hungarian ethnic communities to one deputy each in the National Assembly. However, there have been persistent reports of police harassment of Roma (Gypsies) and of residents from other former Yugoslav republics, the so-called new minorities. International watchdog groups report some governmental and societal discrimination against Serbs, Croats, Bosnians, Kosovo Albanians, and Roma now living in Slovenia.

According to the constitution, Slovenian citizens enjoy all recognized personal rights and freedoms, including the freedom to travel, to choose one's place of residence, and the right to own private property.

Women enjoy the same constitutional rights and freedoms as men under the law. Currently, there are 12 women serving in the 90-seat parliament and 3 women in the 40-seat National Council. Domestic violence remains a concern. In recent years, Slovenia has become both a transit country and a country of destination for women and girls trafficked from other parts of Eastern Europe for purposes of prostitution.