Slovenia’s parliamentary election ended in an extremely tight race between Prime Minister Robert Golob’s liberal Freedom Movement and Janez Janša’s opposition SDS, with Golob’s party narrowly leading by less than half a percentage point.

Early exit polls suggested a wider margin, but the gap shrank as votes were counted, leaving no clear path to forming a government.

Coalition negotiations are expected to be difficult, with smaller parties likely to play a role.

The election is seen as a key moment for Slovenia’s political direction, balancing between liberal EU-aligned policies and right-wing populism, the DW has reported.

The campaign was also marked by allegations of foreign interference involving the firm Black Cube, which Janša has denied.