Slovenia is preparing for a possible major referendum day on October 11, when voters could be asked to give their opinion on three different political and social issues. The relevant parliamentary committees have approved proposals for the advisory referendums, with the final decision still to be taken by the National Assembly. If the Assembly approves the decrees, the referendum procedures would officially begin on September 1 and voters would go to the polls on October 11. The first referendum would ask voters whether access to financial social assistance for people who are able to work and have no objective obstacles to employment should be connected to performing community service. The proposal has already generated political debate, with supporters arguing that people receiving assistance should contribute to society when they are capable of working, while opponents have raised concerns about the way such a system would work and its broader social consequences.
The second referendum concerns Slovenia’s public broadcasting system and whether the mandatory payment of the RTV contribution should be abolished. The proposal was supported by the parliamentary Committee for Culture, while the third referendum would concern voting rights in local elections for citizens of countries outside the European Union. This issue has become particularly controversial because Parliament has already adopted changes to the local elections law that would remove local voting rights from citizens of third countries, and opponents are pursuing a separate legislative referendum process. The October 11 vote could therefore become an important political moment in Slovenia, touching on social assistance, public broadcasting and the political participation of foreign citizens. However, the three advisory referendums are not yet completely confirmed, as the National Assembly still has to vote on the relevant decrees. If they are approved, preparations would begin in September and Slovenian voters would have three separate questions to consider on October 11.
