Zoran Stevanovic poses after the first session of the new Slovenian parliament in Ljubljana, Slovenia, April 10, 2026. Stevanovic, leader of the center-right party Resni.ca, was elected speaker of the Slovenia's parliament, which was inaugurated on Friday. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

LJUBLJANA, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Zoran Stevanovic, leader of the center-right party Resni.ca, was elected speaker of the Slovenia's parliament, which was inaugurated on Friday.

Stevanovic was elected in a secret 48-29 vote in the 90-seat parliament, according to the Slovenian News Agency (STA).

"The power in this state does not belong to us, it belongs to the people ... We have to take a path of connectivity, transparency and responsibility," Stevanovic told parliament after the vote.

"I will do everything to make this hall a place of dialogue," he was quoted as saying.

Although the center-left Freedom Movement of the incumbent Prime Minister Robert Golob narrowly won the general election on March 22 by clinching 29 seats, it remains unclear whether Golob will be able to gain over enough parties to form the next government.

His current coalition partners, the Social Democrats and the Left, won a combined 11 seats, leaving the ruling bloc short of the 46 seats needed for a parliamentary majority, the STA noted.

Under the Slovenian Constitution and parliamentary rules, if no coalition secures at least 46 seats, prolonged negotiations may follow, potentially leading to political instability and even the possibility of new elections.

Meanwhile, former Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, leader of the center-right Slovenian Democratic Party that holds 28 seats, is Golob's main challenger.

Resni.ca and two other small parties, New Slovenia and the Democrats, collectively hold 20 seats and are expected to play a key role in forming a future governing coalition.

President Natasa Pirc Musar has to nominate a candidate for the post of the prime minister within 30 days, and the candidate needs to be confirmed by a parliamentary majority, the STA said. ■

Zoran Stevanovic poses after the first session of the new Slovenian parliament in Ljubljana, Slovenia, April 10, 2026. Stevanovic, leader of the center-right party Resni.ca, was elected speaker of the Slovenia's parliament, which was inaugurated on Friday. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)

Zoran Stevanovic answers the questions to the media after the first session of the new Slovenian parliament in Ljubljana, Slovenia, April 10, 2026. Stevanovic, leader of the center-right party Resni.ca, was elected speaker of the Slovenia's parliament, which was inaugurated on Friday. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua)