Recent political developments in Slovenia are raising growing concerns among CSOs over increasing hostility, intimidation, and political pressure targeting independent civic actors. Following the March 2026 parliamentary elections, parties involved in coalition negotiations, particularly the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), have renewed narratives portraying CSOs as politically biased and misusing public funds. Proposed parliamentary inquiries into CSOs’ financing and activities, alongside public calls to restrict funding to critical organisations, are being widely viewed by civil society as attempts to delegitimise and pressure independent actors under the guise of oversight and transparency. Concerns further escalated after criminal complaints and public attacks targeted representatives of the NGO Danes je nov dan following criticism of proposed legislation. Civil society actors warn that hostile rhetoric, funding threats, and politicised inquiries risk creating a chilling effect on civic engagement, freedom of expression, and democratic participation. Read more here.
Source: Civic Space Watch