Thousands of people gathered outside Slovenia’s National Assembly in Ljubljana on September 2 for what organizers described as the first major protest against the country’s new government. The demonstration, organized by the civil initiative Glas ljudstva, began at 6 p.m. and focused primarily on demands for the resignation of Boris Mijič, a member of the Resnica party, as well as the resignation of the entire government and the calling of early parliamentary elections. Police estimated that around 2,500 people attended the protest. Organizers presented Mijič as a symbol of what they described as broader problems within the governing coalition, arguing that the government is undermining the welfare state, workers’ rights and public services. During the gathering, several speakers criticized the government’s policies and its relationship with different groups in Slovenian society. Activist Jaša Jenull appeared with a copy of the Constitution and read its first three articles, prompting applause and chants from the crowd. Social psychologist and former parliamentarian Metka Mencin spoke about inequality and the relationship between political power and responsibility, while representatives of workers’ organizations raised concerns about employment conditions and what they described as the growing precariousness of workers.
Miha Blažič of Ambasada Rog also called for solidarity with foreign workers and highlighted a planned protest for September 16. The organizers said their petition demanding Mijič’s resignation had already collected more than 15,000 signatures before the demonstration. The protest also included a symbolic performance aimed directly at Mijič. Organizers had invited the politician to attend and face the protesters, but he did not appear. Instead, a cardboard police vehicle was used to symbolically “detain” an image of Mijič before carrying it away from the square. Palestinian flags were visible among the crowd, while representatives of the opposition, including members of Levica, were also present. Speakers connected the criticism of Mijič to wider concerns about public healthcare, social services, workers’ rights and the treatment of foreign employees. Protesters argued that the controversy surrounding Mijič should not be viewed as an isolated political dispute, but as evidence of what they consider deeper problems within the governing coalition.
The demonstration marks an early challenge for Prime Minister Janez Janša’s government, which has only recently begun its new term. Protesters are already calling for political change and early elections, while the government and its supporters reject the accusations made against it. The presence of around 2,500 people gives the demonstration significant visibility, particularly because it was presented as the beginning of a broader campaign rather than a one time event. Organizers have indicated that further actions are planned, including the September 16 protest focusing on foreign workers. For now, the Ljubljana demonstration has placed the government’s policies, Mijič’s political position and the future of the current coalition firmly at the center of Slovenia’s political debate.
