Slovenia: Another EU Government Falls

After weeks of political uncertainty, the Slovenian Parliament on Feb. 27 ousted the government led by Prime Minister Janez Jansa, making Slovenia the third EU country within one week to experience political turmoil. The Slovenian crisis resulted directly from a political scandal involving Jansa, but it also stemmed from the same economic stagnation and austerity measures that are destabilizing countries throughout Europe.

The fall of the government in Slovenia closely follows the resignation of the Bulgarian government and paralyzing elections in Italy. The European Union will closely follow the situation in Ljubljana both because Slovenia risks becoming a bailout candidate and because political paralysis in the country could delay Croatia's EU accession, which is scheduled for July.