President of Slovenia

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox official post Template:Listen Template:Politics of Slovenia The president of Slovenia, officially the president of the Republic of Slovenia (Template:Langx), is the head of state of Slovenia. The office was established on 23 December 1991 when the National Assembly passed a new constitution after the separation of Slovenia from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Five individuals have occupied the post of president of the Republic since Slovenia achieved its independence. The incumbent is Nataša Pirc Musar, Slovenia's first female president. The president's official workplace is the Presidential Palace in Ljubljana.

Election and term of office

The president is directly elected by universal adult suffrage for a term of five years.<ref name="rtvinfo">Template:Cite web</ref> Any Slovenian citizen of legal age (18 or more) may run for President, but may only hold office for two terms.<ref name="rtvinfo"/>

The president has no legally guaranteed immunity and may be impeached during their time in office.

Duties and functions

The president of the Republic is the highest representative of the Slovenian state, belonging neither to the legislative, executive, judicial, nor constitutive branches of state power. The president instead occupies a completely separate but coequal moderating branch by virtue of Article 102 of the Constitution.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> To this end, the president represents Slovenia abroad, fosters national unity at home, and exercises supreme command and control over the Armed Forces of Slovenia as commander-in-chief. In the performance of these functions, the president upholds the rule of law and, through their ongoing mediation and arbitration, guarantees the continuity and orderly operation of Slovenia’s democratic institutions.<ref>Template:Cite presentation</ref> This stabilising and integrative role is in keeping with the president’s solemn oath taken at inauguration to “...uphold the constitutional order,…act according to my conscience and…do all in my power for the good of Slovenia”.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Constitution of Slovenia provides for a parliamentary system of government, whereby the presidency is a predominantly ceremonial institution with limited political power.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> Indeed, unlike in most parliamentary republics, the president is not even the ‘’nominal’’ chief executive. Rather, the executive authority of Slovenia is explicitly vested in the Government with the prime minister as its head.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Nevertheless, both the National Assembly and the Government are obliged as a matter of law and by the terms of their own standing orders to keep the president fully informed on matters of state, be they foreign or domestic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Moreover, the functions conferred on the president by the Constitution and subordinate statute law require neither the countersignature of the prime minister nor the advice of the Government to be effective.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref><ref>Template:Cite report</ref>Template:Efn Thus, the powers and duties at the president’s disposal are generally exercised either in his or her complete discretion, after consultation with or on the proposal of the Government (with the right to refuse a proposal and to act contrary to any advice tendered), or in accordance with constitutional restrictions in the case of certain ministerial functions.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Legislative functions

Convene regular sessions of the National Assembly

The president of the Republic has the power to call both general and by-elections to the National Assembly and to convene its first regular session following a general election, provided general elections must be called no later than fifteen days before the expiry of four years from the date of the first session of the outgoing National Assembly. Likewise, if the president dissolves the National Assembly before the expiration of its mandate and calls for snap elections, a new National Assembly must be elected no later than two months after the dissolution of the previous one. The term of the old National Assembly otherwise comes to an end by default upon the first session of a new National Assembly, which must be convoked by the president no later than twenty days after a general election.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Convene extraordinary sessions of the National Assembly

The president of the Republic may convene an extraordinary session of the National Assembly.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The calling together of an extraordinary session of the National Assembly concurrently reconvenes the National Council, the upper house of Slovenia’s incompletely bicameral Parliament.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Dissolve the National Assembly and call snap elections

The president has plenary authority to dissolve the National Assembly before the expiration of its term and call snap elections, but only if either of the following conditions are met:

1. The National Assembly fails to elect a prime minister within 30 days from the start of a new parliamentary session;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> or
2. The National Assembly passes a vote of no confidence in the Government and fails to elect a new prime minister within 30 days.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Express opinions to the National Assembly

The president of the Republic may, on their own initiative or whenever requested by the National Assembly, express an opinion on any matter of national import.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Promulgate laws

The president of the Republic promulgates each law passed by the National Assembly within eight days of its enactment, unless the law is sooner vetoed by the National Council. The president does not have the discretion to refuse laws duly passed by the National Assembly and agreed to by the National Council.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Executive functions

Nominate the prime minister

The president of the Republic nominates for the consideration of the National Assembly a candidate for prime minister, after consultation with the leaders of the various political parties represented in the National Assembly. The National Assembly in turn elects or rejects the president’s nominee. If the National Assembly fails to elect a prime minister on the first round, the president may nominate one or more additional candidates for the consideration of the National Assembly in subsequent rounds, including a previously nominated candidate. This process continues until a prime minister is duly elected or the National Assembly is dissolved.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Nominate and appoint certain other state officials

The president of the Republic nominates for the consideration of the National Assembly the governor of the Central Bank of Slovenia, the members of the Court of Audit, and the Human Rights Ombudsman.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The National Assembly in turn confirms or rejects the candidates so nominated. If confirmed, the nominees are formally appointed to office by the president.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Represent Slovenia in foreign relations

The president of the Republic acts as Slovenia's supreme representative in international affairs.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite report</ref> In this capacity, the president appoints and recalls Slovenian ambassadors and envoys, accepts the credentials of foreign diplomats accredited to Slovenia, and both pays and receives state visits.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Pursuant to Articles 14 and 59 of the Foreign Affairs Act, the president also decides on the opening and closure of diplomatic missions. In the performance of these duties, the president is required by law to consult the foreign minister in order to ensure a coordinated and effective foreign policy.Template:Efn The president is nevertheless not obliged to follow any of the foreign minister's opinions, proposals, requests, or recommendations. Indeed, the president may act contrary to such advice.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In a similar vein, the president is empowered to issue instruments of ratification, whereby Slovenia expresses its consent as a sovereign state to be bound by treaty under international law.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Despite this authority, the president's ability to refuse a treaty is limited. Treaty negotiation and conclusion is the responsibility of the Government, whereas ratification itself rests exclusively with the National Assembly.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Nevertheless, before affixing his or her instrument of ratification to any treaty, the president may request the Constitutional Court to opine on the treaty's constitutionality. If the Constitutional Court concludes the treaty violates the Constitution, the treaty is deemed null and void. If the Constitutional Court finds the treaty is however in compliance with the Constitution, the president must issue an instrument of ratification.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Serve as Commander-in-Chief

Supreme command and control of the Slovenian Armed Forces vests in the president of the Republic as commander-in-chief.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> To this end, the president has plenary authority to declare a state of emergency and to declare a state of war if Slovenia is under attack. However, the president may exercise these broad powers only if the National Assembly is for whatever reason unable to convene.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Other duties have been conferred on the president by virtue of Slovenia's Defense Act. For example, the president:

1. commissions all generals, admirals, and other commissioned officers of the Armed Forces;
2. approves the annual guidelines prepared by the defense minister and submitted to the chief of the General Staff detailing the operational strategy, materiel needs, and organizational plans of the Armed Forces;
3. prescribes the conditions and procedures for keeping him or herself informed about the state of readiness of the Armed Forces and other matters relevant to the defence of the state;
4. receives regular briefings from the Intelligence and Security Service;
5. adopts regulations with the force of law for the purpose of administering the activities of the Armed Forces, including matters of military justice, but only on the proposal of the Government;
6. orders the mobilisation of the Armed Forces, but only on the proposal of the Government; and
7. decides upon the use and deployment of the Armed Forces, the enforcement of work and material duty, and (during a state of emergency) their total mobilisation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Issue decrees in times of national crisis

The president of the Republic may, at the request of the Government, issue decrees with the force of law. Said decrees may, in exception, restrict individual human rights and fundamental freedoms otherwise guaranteed by Article 16 of the Constitution. The president’s authority to make such decrees is only valid when the National Assembly is unable to convene and a state of war or emergency has been invoked.Template:Efn The president may accept or refuse the Government’s request.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Judicial functions

Exercise the prerogative of clemency

The president of the Republic may, in their discretion, grant general or special pardons, commutations, reprieves, and respites to individuals convicted of criminal violations in Slovenian courts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The president may choose to appoint a commission of experts to consult him or herself in the review of applications, but the prerogative of clemency is ultimately the president's alone.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Nominate justices of the Constitutional Court

The president of the Republic nominates for the consideration of the National Assembly the nine justices of the Constitutional Court, who each serve staggered nonrenewable terms of nine years. The National Assembly in turn elects or rejects the candidates so nominated.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite report</ref>

Nominate members of the Judicial Council

The president of the Republic nominates for the consideration of the National Assembly five out of the eleven members of the Judicial Council.Template:Efn Nominees must be university professors of law, senior counsel, or attorneys accepted to the State Bar. The National Assembly in turn elects or rejects the candidates so nominated.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Members of the Judicial Council serve staggered terms of six years upon confirmation, with either two or three of the presidentially nominated members subject to reelection every three years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Nominate Slovenian judges to international courts

The president of the Republic nominates for the consideration of the National Assembly Slovenia's judges on the European Court of Justice, the European Court of Human Rights, and the International Criminal Court. The National Assembly in turn elects or rejects the candidates so nominated.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Confer and revoke state honours

The president of the Republic is Slovenia's fount of honour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In this capacity, the president confers state honours on individuals for contributions to civil society, diplomacy and international affairs, and national security. Pursuant to the Act on Decorations of the Republic of Slovenia, state honours take the form of various medals and national orders, are conferred and revoked by decree, and are awarded at the president's discretion. Nevertheless, state authorities, local government authorities, organizations and citizens of the Republic of Slovenia may propose candidates for the president's consideration. Likewise, a Slovenian citizen cannot accept a foreign honour without the president's consent.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

List of presidents of Slovenia

Socialist Republic of Slovenia

Parties; Template:Legend2 Template:Legend2 Template:Legend2

Template:Abbr	Name Template:Small	Portrait	Term of office		Political party
Presidents of the People's Assembly Template:Small
1	Ferdo Kozak Template:Small		30 January 1953	15 December 1953	OF
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;"| 2	Miha Marinko Template:Small		15 December 1953	9 June 1962	ZKS
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;"| 3	Vida Tomšič Template:Small		9 June 1962	25 June 1963	ZKS
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;"| 5	Ivan Maček Template:Small		25 June 1963	9 May 1967	ZKS
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;"| 6	Sergej Kraigher Template:Small		9 May 1967	1973	ZKS
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;"| 7	Tone Kropušek Template:Small		1973	1974	ZKS
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;"| 8	Marijan Brecelj Template:Small		1974	9 May 1974	ZKS
Presidents of the Presidency Template:Small
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;"| 9	Sergej Kraigher Template:Small		9 May 1974	23 May 1979	ZKS
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;"| 10	Viktor Avbelj Template:Small		23 May 1979	7 May 1984	ZKS
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;"| 11	France Popit Template:Small		7 May 1984	6 May 1988	ZKS
style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;"| 12	Janez Stanovnik Template:Small		6 May 1988	10 May 1990	ZKS
Template:Small					SDP
13	Milan Kučan Template:Small		10 May 1990	23 December 1991	SDP

Republic of Slovenia

Parties; Template:Legend2 Template:Legend2 Template:Legend2

Template:Abbr	Portrait	Name Template:Small	Term of office			Political Party	Elected
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
Presidents Template:Small

See also

• Prime Minister of Slovenia

External links

• Official site of the President of the Republic of Slovenia Template:In lang