Slovenia or Slovenija
Country in S central Europe, bounded N by Austria, E by Hungary, W
by Italy, and S by Croatia.
Government
Under the 1991 constitution, there is a 90-member chamber of deputies
- 38 directly elected, 50 selected on a proportional basis by
an electoral commission, and two nonelected representatives of
the republic's minorities - and a 40-member state council (upper
house), 22 directly elected and 18 representing professional and
other interest groups. The chamber of deputies serves a four-year
term and the state council a five-year term. The state council
has veto powers over the lower chamber. The president, popularly
elected for a maximum of two five-year terms, has mainly ceremonial
powers. The prime minister must command a majority in the national
assembly.
History
Settled by the Slovenes in the 6th century, the region came under Frankish
rule 788, and then under Hungarian domination 907-55. It was controlled
by the Habsburgs from 1335. It formed part of the Austrian crownlands
of Carniola, Styria, and Carinthia prior to its incorporation
1918 into the kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which
became part of Yugoslavia 1929. Unlike neighbouring Croatia, there
were few Slovenian demands for autonomy during the 1930s. During
World War II the region was occupied by Germany and Italy; it
was made a constituent republic within the Yugoslav Socialist
Federal Republic Nov 1945. It was the most economically advanced
and politically liberal republic within the federation, helping
to subsidize the poorer republics.
Nationalist unrest
From the 1980s there was economic decline and increasing nationalist
unrest. The leadership of the ruling Slovene League of Communists
responded by pressing for greater autonomy within the federation
to enable the republic to pursue a strategy of economic liberalization
and political pluralism. In 1989 opposition parties were legalized
and a free, multiparty election was held April 1990. Despite renaming
themselves the Party of Democratic Reform (PDR) and adopting a
social democratic programme, the communists were convincingly
defeated by the six-party Democratic Opposition of Slovenia (DEMOS),
a nationalist, centre-right coalition, which campaigned for independence
within a year. However, the PDR's reformist leader, Milan Kucan,
was popularly elected state president, renouncing his party membership
once installed in office. The new government promoted the formation
of a new loose Yugoslav confederation, but this was resisted by
Serbia.
Secession from Yugoslavia
Overwhelming support was given to independence in a referendum Dec
1990 and plans were made for secession. An independent army, the
Slovenian Territorial Defence Force, was established in the spring
of 1991. Following the announcement in May 1991 that both Slovenia
and Croatia would secede from the federation on 26 June, more
than 100 were killed in clashes around newly established Slovene
border posts. The European Community (EC) brokered a cease- fire,
based upon a three-month suspension of Slovenia's declaration
of independence and the withdrawal of the Yugoslav National Army
(JNA) from the republic. This was successfully implemented as
the focus of the JNA's activity switched to Croatia, with its
much larger Serb minority. On 23 Dec 1991 Slovenia adopted a new
constitution. In the same month DEMOS dissolved itself and reverted
to independent parties.
Independence recognized
The EC (now European Union (EU)) and USA formally recognized Slovenia's
independence Jan 1992. A vote of no confidence in the government
April 1992 led to the appointment of Janez Drnovsek as prime minister
designate. Slovenia was admitted to the United Nations May 1992.
Assembly elections Dec 1992 were won by the centrist Liberal Democrats
and Christian Democrats, and Milan Kucan was re -elected president.
Janez Drnov sek was re-elected prime minister by the national
assembly Jan 1993. In Jan 1996 the United List of Social Democrats
(ZLSD) withdrew from the governing coalition.
In June 1996 Slovenia signed an association accord with the
EU and applied for full membership. In parliamentary elections
Nov 1996 the Liberal Democrats, led by Prime Minister Drnovsek,
fell short of a majority and faced a challenge from an alliance
of right-wing parties. In Jan 1997 the ruling centre-left Liberal
Democracy of Slovenia (LDS), led by Drnovsek, formed a new government.
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