State of Slovenia Photo: Dušan Zidar/Mostphotos Slovenia - the Real Feeling

diligent, responsible, focused State of Slovenia Photo: Dušan Zidar/Mostphotos SLOVENIA - THE REAL FEELING The year 1991 was a turning point for Slovenia and Slovenians. In that year, Slovenia appeared on the world political map as an independent state. But the Slovenians laid foundations for statehood more than a thousand years ago. The country’s extraordinary geographical position – where the Alps face the Pannonian plain and the Mediterranean meets the mysterious Karst – played an important role in this process. The diverse landscape has marked the country’s rich natural and cultural heritage, inspired the creativity of its inhabitants and produced a number of exceptional individuals. Slovenian identity and nationality are closely linked to the Slovenian language, one of the few languages to have preserved the dual grammatical form. Slovenia is very proud of its natural features, as they allow us to be what we are. Two thirds of Slovenia’s territory are covered with forests, with green being the dominant colour. We like to call it ‘Slovenian green’, associating it with balance between nature and society and the diligence of Slovenians. Green is also in the national brand logo “I feel Slovenia”, referring to unspoilt nature and our focus on keeping nature unspoilt. OUR PAST Over thousands of years, Slovenians have The principality of Carantania is particularly The crossroads of the Alps, the Pannonian century, when it published its first books and maintained their small numbers with pride, notable for the ancient ritual of installing Plain and the Mediterranean was a very lively formed the germ of the national programme. and it was the small size of Slovenia that Carantanian dukes. The ritual took place at area even before that. It was inhabited by Over time, history has created a number of compelled us to accept variety and diversity. the Prince’s Stone (Knežji kamen) and was various peoples, who helped shape the area’s important symbols that remain embedded in We are a South Slavic nation. In the 6th cen- performed in a Slavic language. It persisted cultural heritage. The Illyrians in the early Iron our historical memory: the Carantanian coat tury, our Slavic ancestors emerged from the in its original form until the first half of the 15th Age, and then the Celts, who in the 3rd century of arms and the Carantanian hat, the Prince’s Carpathian Mountains and settled in the ter- century. The installation ritual was also de- BC established the Celtic Kingdom of Nori- Stone from the Zollfeld Field (Gosposvetsko ritory of present-day Slovenia. As early as in scribed by French historian Jean Bodin in his cum, which later became a Roman province. polje), the Freising Manuscripts, the coats of the 7th century, they founded the first Slavic book Six livres de la Republique. Thomas Jef- The period of the Roman Empire left a rich arms of Slovenian regions, particularly Car- state, the principality of Carantania, under the ferson, an American Founding Father, under- cultural heritage in the first towns that ap- niola, the dynasty of the counts of Celje, the leadership of King Samo. Carantania existed lined a reference to it in his copy of the book, peared in this area. linden leaf, and Triglav, the highest mountain for almost 300 years and was known for its which gave rise to speculation that it inspired in Slovenia. These were the basis for the democratic organisation and the sovereignty him in writing the draft of his “Declaration of It took a long time for the rich blend of old national symbols of the Republic of Slovenia of its people. Independence”. However, there is no histori- and new to mould into an independent na- – the coat of arms, the national flag and the cal evidence of this. tional community, which matured in the 16th national anthem. Photo: Gojmir Anton Kos/Archives of National Gallery of Slovenia Photo: UKOM Archive 250,000 The first evidence of human habitation on BC the territory of the present-day Slovenia Despite the fact that, until the 20th century, the 6th The Vače situla, one of the most important century 1991 Slovenian national community was governed BC finds from the Hallstatt period The year when Slovenia became an by foreigners – most of the time it was under Habsburg or later Austro-Hungarian rule – it after Dominance of Slavic tribes independent parliamentary republic. 568 managed to shape its national identity. After the First World War, Slovenia became part 7-11th Carantania, the oldest known independent of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, and after the century Slavic tribal union Second World War, of the Socialist Federal 9th Beginning of the formation of the Slovenian Republic of Yugoslavia. century nation After more than seventy years of living in Yu- 10th The Freising Manuscripts, the earliest goslavia, the Slovenians reached a consensus century known text written in Slovenian on independence. In a plebiscite in 1990, al- 14-15th most 90 per cent of the Slovenian electorate century Beginning of Habsburg hegemony voted in favour of Slovenian independence. In June 1991, Slovenia became an independent 1550 The first book written in Slovenian state. In January 1992, it was recognised by the European Union, and shortly afterwards it also became established in the international 1848 The first Slovenian political program community. In 1998, the young state of Slo- venia became a non-permanent member of 1918 Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes the UN Security Council, over which it also presided. 1946 Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia The year 2004 was an important milestone for Slovenia, as in that year it joined the Euro- Proclamation of the independent Republic 1991 pean Union and NATO. On 1 January 2007, of Slovenia Slovenia became the first of the new Member States to adopt the EU’s common currency. It 2004 EU membership was also the first new Member State to hold the Presidency of the Council of the European 2008 EU presidency Union, during the first half of 2008. Photo: Jakše-Jeršič SLOVENIA’S POLITICAL SYSTEM PARLIAMENT THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC represents The bicameral Slovenian Parliament con- the Republic of Slovenia and is the sists of the National Assembly and the commander-in-chief of its armed forces. National Council. The highest legislative The President calls elections to the National authority is the National Assembly (with 90 Assembly, promulgates laws, proposes a deputies elected for a four-year term) with candidate for Prime Minister to the National one representative of each of the Hungarian Assembly following consultations with and Italian minorities, which has the right to the leaders of deputy groups, proposes enact laws. The deputies represent all the candidates for judges of the Constitutional people of Slovenia. Court and members of the Court of Audit, appoints and recalls ambassadors, accepts The National Assembly exercises legisla- the credentials of foreign diplomats, grants tive, voting and monitoring functions. As a clemencies, etc. legislative authority, it enacts constitutional amendments, laws, national programmes, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA resolutions, etc. It also creates its own in- is a body with executive power and is the ternal rules, ratifies the state budget and highest body of the state administration. treaties and calls referendums. It elects According to the Constitution, “Slovenia It determines, guides, and coordinates is a state of all its citizens and is founded the Prime Minister and other ministers, the the implementation of state policies in on the permanent and inalienable President of the National Assembly and up accordance with the Constitution, laws and right of the Slovenian nation to self- to three Vice-Presidents. The monitoring other general acts passed by the National determination”. function of the National Assembly includes Assembly. the setting up of parliamentary enquiries, votes of no confidence in the Government With regard to the EU, the Government The Republic of Slovenia is a parliamentary The Constitution also lays down the or Ministers, and constitutional proceedings represents the Republic of Slovenia and representative democratic republic and a foundations of the legal system, which is against the President of the Republic, the makes submissions to EU institutions. social state governed by law. The present based on respect for human rights and Prime Minister or Ministers in the Constitu- The Government functions as a cabinet led by a Prime Minister. It consists of the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia fundamental freedoms, on the principle tional Court, Human Rights Ombudsman etc. was adopted on 23 December 1991, of a legal and socially just state, on a Prime Minister and ministers. Ministers head ministries and determine the political following the results of the plebiscite on the parliamentary form of state authority, and on The right to vote is universal and equal. All guidelines for their activities. Their number sovereignty and independence of Slovenia the separation of legislative, executive and citizens who have attained the age of eight- is not determined in advance, every on 23 December 1990, when Slovenians judicial powers, with a parliamentary system een years have the right to vote and stand government coalition decides on the number overwhelmingly voted for secession from the of government. for office. Yugoslav Federation. according to its political goals and needs. Photo: Anže Malovrh/STA THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM is the third branch of THE BANK OF SLOVENIA is the central bank state authority. The task of the judiciary of the Republic of Slovenia. In carrying is to decide on the rights and duties of out its role, it operates according to the citizens, and charges brought against Statute of the European System of Central them. All courts are regular courts, and Banks (ESCB) and of the European Central act in accordance with the principles of Bank (ECB).

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