Slovenian party mulls coalition to break logjam

Bloomberg

A Slovenian political party that has been talking to the top two finishers in last month’s inconclusive parliamentary ballot proposed that they join forces to break a deadlock that may trigger a re-do election.
The euro-area nation of 2 million people is facing a protracted standoff after no party emerged with a clear majority, touching off the European Union’s latest struggle between populists and pro-integration political forces. The record nine parties that made it into parliament are roughly split between those that tout the benefits of EU membership and a brand
of euroskeptic, anti-immigrant leaders like those who’ve taken power in neighbouring Hungary, Austria and Italy.
Vote winner Janez Jansa, a former prime minister, has received a mandate to form a government, but most parties are refusing to work with him in protest of his nationalist, anti-refugee pre-election campaign. Runner up Marjan Sarec has pledged to cobble together an alternative coalition of as many as six parties if he gets a chance. In the center is the pro-business New Slovenia party, led by Matej Tonin, who says Sarec should join Jansa.
“It would be best if Slovenia gets a grand coalition that would be formed by the first and second-placed parties,” Tonin said in central Ljubljana, explaining that his party would have difficulties in working with a Sarec-led coalition of many parties. “We would thus have the strong coalition that Slovenia needs.”
Tonin is set to meet Jansa Tuesday to explore whether he can form a government before July 19, the deadline imposed by President Borut Pahor.
Jansa lacks the numbers for a majority in the 90-member assembly, but he hasn’t given up yet, his party spokeswoman said. If he fails and Sarec is also unable to create an administration, there will be a third round of talks.
The future government must also agree on a replacement for former central bank Governor Bostjan Jazbec, who left for a new job in April.
The governor is a member of the European Central Bank’s Governing Council.