Election silence in Slovenia ahead of uncertain parliamentary elections

(Patria) - Election silence came into effect in Slovenia at midnight ahead of Sunday's parliamentary elections, in which 1.7 million citizens will elect 88 deputies to the National Assembly, while the remaining two deputies are elected by members of the Italian and Hungarian minorities.

According to the latest polls, the ruling left-liberal Freedom Movement of Prime Minister Robert Golob has the greatest confidence, which is partly a result of the foreign interference in elections affair, linked to Janez Janša's opposition Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS). The director of the Sova intelligence agency presented evidence of a visit by the Israeli private agency "Black Cube" to the SDS headquarters.

Polls estimate Freedom Movement's lead over SDS to be between 0.4 and 6.2 percent. Even with such a result, the formation of a new government is expected to take time due to small differences between the left-liberal and right-wing blocs.

The Left and the Vesna party, Social Democrats, New Slovenia, Anže Logar's Democrats, and the anti-system party Resnica are likely to enter the new convocation of the National Assembly. Close to the four percent threshold are the Prerod party, Pirates of Slovenia, and the Slovenian National Party. 4.8 percent of voters exercised their right to early voting.

Regular elections will be held on Sunday from 7 AM to 7 PM, and the first projections and official results are expected shortly after the polling stations close.