The 55-33 vote came on the heels of corruption allegations by the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (CPC), Slovenian anti-corruption watchdog. Alenka Bratusek, from the opposition party Positive Slovenia (PS), has been picked as Janša’s replacement, Al Jazeera reported.
The CPC accused the ex-Prime Minister of failing to disclose over $260,000 in assets. Janša proclaimed his innocence but failed to explain his finances, Al Jazeera reported. When Janša refused to step down as Prime Minister, a number of coalition government partners split from his SDS Party, paving the way for a no-confidence vote.
Janša’s time in government had been highly unpopular. Slovenia was harshly affected by the 2008 financial crisis, and GDP per capita fell by 0.34% in 2011, leading to a loss of over $2.6 billion, according to World Bank estimates. Harsh austerity measures meant to bring a government deficit to a manageable level have sparked strikes and protests across Slovenia. Bratusek has listed growth and “balancing public financing” without harming economic health as her main goals.
Bratusek has two weeks to present Parliament with her cabinet and plans, as well as win a vote of approval. Regardless of the outcome of the vote, Slovenia is likely to hold early elections within the next year, Al Jazeera reported.
