With most votes tallied, Babis’s ANO party is ahead, but it appears set to fall short of a majority in parliament.
Published On 4 Oct 20254 Oct 2025
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Billionaire Andrej Babis’s populist ANO party has taken a commanding lead in the Czech Republic’s parliamentary election, but is on track to fall short of a majority.
With ballots from more than 97 percent of polling stations counted on Saturday, ANO had 35 percent of the vote, according to the Czech Statistical Office. Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s centre-right Spolu (Together) alliance trailed with 23 percent.
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Shortly after the preliminary results were announced, Fiala conceded defeat and offered congratulations to Babis.
Turnout reached 68 percent, the highest since 1998, with more than 4,400 candidates and 26 parties competing for seats in the 200-member lower house.
President Petr Pavel, who holds the power to appoint the next prime minister, is expected to open coalition talks with party leaders on Sunday once results are finalised. Officials have warned that the rollout of mail-in voting could slow the official confirmation.
Despite the strong showing, the failure to secure a majority means Babis cannot rule alone. Early signs suggest ANO may seek backing from the Motorists, a party opposing European Union green policies, and the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD), which has campaigned against both NATO and the EU.
Leader of ANO party Andrej Babis speaks during a news conference after the preliminary results of the parliamentary election, at the party’s election headquarters in Prague, Czech Republic, October 4, 2025 [Radovan Stoklasa/Reuters]
SPD deputy leader Radim Fiala told Czech television the party was ready to help topple the government. “We went into the election with the aim of ending the government of Petr Fiala and support even for a minority cabinet of ANO is important for us and it would meet the target we had for this election,” he said.
The partial results showed fringe pro-Russian parties underperforming. SPD managed 8 percent, while the far-left Stacilo! movement, centred on the Communist Party, failed to clear the 5 percent threshold to enter parliament.
Babis, who led a centre-left government from 2017 to 2021, has shifted sharply to the right in recent years. Once supportive of adopting the euro, he now brands himself a eurosceptic and admirer of US President Donald Trump, even handing out “Strong Czechia” baseball caps styled after Trump’s MAGA slogan.
He has also forged close ties with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and aligned with far-right forces in the European Parliament.
While resisting SPD’s call for a referendum on leaving the EU and NATO, Babis has promised to end Prague’s arms procurement initiative for Ukraine, insisting military aid should be managed directly by NATO and the EU.
Lakers star Luka Doncic will not play in the team’s two preseason games this weekend, the team announced after its shoot-around Friday.
Doncic will sit out against the Phoenix Suns on Friday night at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert and against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night in San Francisco.
The Lakers said it was a collaborative decision made with L.A.’s performance team because of his time playing for the Slovenian national team in the EuroBasket tournament this summer.
The Lakers said the plan is to be smart with Doncic in the long term as he ramps up for the regular season that opens Oct. 21 against the Warriors at Crypto.com Arena.
LeBron James, Marcus Smart (achilles tendinopathy), Maxi Kleber (quad) and rookie Aduo Thiero (knee) also won’t play against the Suns.
Doncic played in his last game with Slovenia about a month ago, a game in which he scored 39 points but his squad was eliminated by Germany in the EuroBasket quarterfinals.
After practice Thursday, Doncic talked about easing his way into training camp while getting ready for the regular season after playing at peak level for Slovenia.
“Yeah, obviously probably take it a little bit slower than the usual,” Doncic said. “ I had a busy summer. I think month, month-and-a-half I was with national team. So, it was kind of a lot. But that got me ready for the preseason and obviously regular season. So, for me, I think it really helps.”
Images of this enchanting destination have overtaken TikTok feeds all summer, but winter is the best time to visit this Slovenian city – home to some of the bluest waters on the continent
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Lake Bled is defined by its turquoise waters and looming mountain backdrop(Image: Getty Images)
Just because summer has come to a close, doesn’t mean you should turn a cold shoulder to your favourite holiday hotspots. Some places double as a sunny escape and a winter wonderland, and a new list is highlighting a destination that is the best of both.
The car rental experts at SIXT have revealed the most stunning winter sun destinations across Europe. At the top of the list is Lake Bled, Slovenia, home to one of the continent’s bluest bodies of water.
SIXT analysed the bluest bodies of water in Europe to note the most picturesque winter destinations for Brits to visit during the shoulder season and cold months. The group colour-picked high-resolution photographs of 100 of the most beautiful bodies of water across Europe before settling on Lake Bled as one of the top spots.
According to SIXT, Lake Bled is the highest ranking city break destination and third bluest in Europe. It also has a stunning mountainous landscape that makes it an even more surreal travel experience.
Skating on the lake is not recommended for safety reasons, but there are indoor and outdoor rinks to enjoy(Image: Getty Images/Vetta)
Although a hotspot for tourists in the summer, this city break is also a hidden gem for those seeking a snowy few days away this winter. Not only does the blue water create an impressive backdrop, but Bled is the site of many fun winter activities.
Skating on the lake is not recommended, however there are plenty of indoor and outdoor rinks for travellers to enjoy in addition to skiing, snowboarding and sledging on nearby slopes like Straža Hill. Straža also happens to be considered the most beautiful viewpoint in the area that offers incredible vantages of the city of Bled, the lake, and surrounding mountains.
Just a few years ago, Slovenia was a relatively under the radar holiday destination, but 2023 and 2024 saw record-breaking growth. In the UK alone, searches for ‘flights to Ljubljana’ surged exponentially.
From December onward, a snowy backdrop sets in, creating a magical setting without the peak-season crowds, perfect for romantic getaways. It’s this combination of natural beauty, blue water and winter activities that makes Lake Bled Europe’s ultimate cold-weather city break this year.
Travel to Slovenia has become more popular year-over-year(Image: Getty Images)
I wake to the peal of church bells as sunlight streams into my room and go out on to the balcony to look up at Mount Storžič.My base, Senkova Domačija, an organic family-run farm just outside the village of Jezersko, is so picturesque it looks like an AI hallucination: an ancient farmhouse with beautiful wooden outbuildings, cows grazing in small green fields, organic vegetables growing neatly in rows, and a backdrop of some seriously dramatic mountains. The Slovenian capital Ljubljana may be less than an hour away, but here in the Jezersko valley, just 3 miles from the Austrian border, it feels like another world.
Bordered on the east by the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, and on the west by the peaks of the Karavanke mountain range, and with a tranquil green lake at the bottom of the valley, there’s a tangible sense of apartness – an idyllic escape from the world.
Before being confiscated by the communists in 1947, the farm had been in the same family for more than 500 years. It was returned in 2005 and passed down to current owner, Polona, by her grandmother. Today, three generations of her family live here and it’s very much a working farm as well as a place to stay. There’s camping in the meadow under the ash trees in summer (bring your own tent), parking for caravans and a choice of simple rooms and self-catering apartments in the farm buildings. Mine, up in the attic of the ancient farmhouse, has been restored using reclaimed wood. Resident goats, two big dogs, cats and chickens wander free-range, and Jezersko–Solčava sheep graze in the fields – though in summer they are taken up to the alpine pastures.
It’s all very eco. Water comes from a glacier, heating is generated by wood chips from trees felled in the local forest, and all food is organic and grown on site (three polytunnels mean vegetables are harvested year-round). With the addition of new solar panels, the farm hopes to be fully self-sustaining next year.
Mountain stream-fed Lake Planšar is perfect for a bracing dip. Photograph: 24K-Production/Alamy
Volunteers return time and again to help out in exchange for food and accommodation. Peggy and Pat Rebol, who’ve come from the US for the third time, tell me: “This place is magic, it’s not only the lake and the valley, it’s the people – this family captured our hearts and all we want to do is keep coming back.”
I’ve come here to hike, so after a breakfast of meats and cheeses, homemade yoghurt and freshly collected eggs, I set out with Drejc Karničar, Polona’s husband (who also happens to be mayor of Jezersko’s 700 inhabitants). As we walk through forest towards the mountains, Drejc points out a rare “golden shoes” orchid at the edge of the wood. I’m not much of a botanist but this delightful plant lives up to its name – each yellow flower looks exactly like a Cinderella shoe. “They only bloom for 14 days,” says Drejc, “you’re lucky.”
We make our way up to Češka koča (the Czech hut), a mountain lodge that was named Slovenia’s “hut of the year” in 2024. You can stay overnight or just grab a hearty lunch on the way up the mountain (the hut is open June to September; book by phone on +386 4028 3300). These high alpine slopes are where Drejc drives his sheep to graze for the summer. They used to go to a different pasture, he tells me, but that was on the bears’ commuting path and “those bears had a party”.
The hike up feels like an Indiana Jones obstacle course, with wire cables screwed into the sheer mountain sides, wooden bridges and at one point a ladder across the rock.Drejc comes up to check on the sheep once a week in summer and brings them salt, essential to their diet.
A room at Senkova Domačija
The next day, I set my sights on summiting Velika Baba, known locally as Mount Baba, about 15 minutes’ drive from the farm. This is a far more demanding climb, so I’m accompanied by expert mountain guide Tomo Česen. As we walk through the forest and climb towards the summit vibrant blue alpine flowers are strewn across the rocks, and purple heather borders the trail. There are no cables and the exposed ridge is slightly terrifying. I’m roped to Tomo for safety and scramble along, trying not to look down. Just as I reach the top, the clouds part cinematically, the sky clears, the snowy mountain peaks gleam white against the blue and I catch my breath – literally and figuratively.
Tomo tells me this ridge marks the border between Austria and Slovenia, and on the way back we pass one of the original border stones, engraved with “SR” for Slovenian Republic. I pause for a moment, with one foot in Austria and the other in Slovenia, thinking I need to brush up on my history.
Supper back at the farm is cooked by Polona (available Tuesday to Saturday, book in advance) and served outside, weather-permitting, accompanied by a panoramic view of the mountains. I tuck into Slovenian beef noodle soup, “Easter bread” (simple and rustic) with home-made salami, and lamb and potatoes with salad from the greenhouses.
The area is characterised by meadows, mountains and ornate churches. Photograph: Aliaksandr Mazurkevich/Alamy
The next day I cycle from the farm down to the village through an avenue of ash trees and across a flower meadow, known locally as “frog square”, to meet Tanja Rebolj, a self-taught čarovnica(herbalist), who makes a variety of teas, jams and herb-infused liquors that she sells from her home. She tells me there are more than 1,200 species of plant in the valley, one of the richest places to forage in Slovenia – and she sometimes runs workshops on herbs for visitors.
Alongside its abundance of flowers and herbs, Jezersko is also one of the most densely forested valleys in the country, and Andreja Košir is my guide to the woods. A former UN translator, she now leads various forest experiences (family audio walk, €210). Hooked up with super-sensitive microphones and recording equipment, we stroll among the trees pausing to listen and record the “hidden sounds of nature”. An ants’ nest sounds just as frenetic as you might imagine. And when Andreja inserts specialist needle microphones into the earth, I hear water moving deep underground. “What fascinates me about nature,” she says, “is that trees can communicate so well. Beech trees are especially talkative – they exchange lots of information.”
We have time, too, to simply relax in the woods. Swinging in a hammock, I glimpse the sky through the canopy, bird song rings out around me. A simple pleasure, but I leave with a profound feeling of wellbeing.
Centuries ago, Jezersko was covered with a massive glacial lake, but an earthquake caused it to drain away in the 14th century. Today, the emerald green, heart-shaped, artificial Lake Planšar, proves irresistible as I cycle past. I gasp as I jump in – it’s bone-jarringly cold and I emerge flushed pink and energised, then ride home through sunlit meadows.
On my last day, as the bells of St Andrej’s church ring out the hour, volunteers are busy in the farm’s Peter Rabbit gardens, chickens scratch at the grass and the sun slants through the apple trees. I take one last look up at Mount Baba before turning for home, feeling clearer and lighter. Mountains, forests and fairytale flowers, long hikes, cold swims and nurturing organic food … sometimes it’s the simple things that make for a magical holiday.
The trip was supported by the Slovenian Tourist Board and Šenkova Domačija farm. Rooms from €119 B&B; dinner €30 (book in advance); apartment for four from €165; camping from €12
Laura Coffey’s book, Enchanted Islands: Travels Through Myth and Magic, Love & Loss, is now available in paperback (Summersdale, £10.99).To support the Guardian and Observer, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply
Aug. 1 (UPI) — Slovenia on Friday imposed a ban on all weapons trading with Israel becoming the first European country to do so over the growing humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave in Israel’s ongoing war.
Its government said in a statement that at the initiative of Prime Minister Robert Golob, Slovenia signed off on its decision that prohibits “the export and transit of military weapons and equipment from or through the Republic of Slovenia to Israel, as well as the import of such goods from Israel into the Republic of Slovenia.”
It added that Israel’s actions had constituted “serious violations of international humanitarian law” and that Slovenia would prepare “some more national measures” in the “coming weeks,” according to the statement.
The prime minister’s decision, according to the Slovenian government, stems from a promise to “act independent” if the EU “failed to adopt concrete measures” by July.
“Due to internal disagreements and lack of unity, the European Union is currently unable to fulfil this task,” the statement said in part.
On Monday, a European Commission proposal to partly suspend EU weaponry aid to Israel was blocked as Sweden became the most recent to apply pressure over trade.
Nearly 70% of Israel’s arsenal is imported from the United States with Germany its second-biggest supplier and Italy at third.
Slovenian officials have repeatedly called for a cease-fire and its government increased aid delivery to the war-torn territory.
On Friday, it said people in Gaza are dying “because humanitarian aid is systematically denied to them. They are dying under the rubble, without access to drinking water, food and basic healthcare.”
Slovenia’s government called it a “complete denial of humanitarian access” and a “conscious prevention of basic conditions for survival.”
Last year in June, Slovenia became one of the first in Europe to recognize Palestine as a state.
Israel has exported more than $560 million in weaponry since October 2023 when Iran’s terror syndicate attacked and took Israeli hostages.
Italy, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands have since either restricted or halted exports.
The foreign ministers of Britain and 28 other nations including Canada, France, Italy and Australia recently issued a joint statement saying Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza had “reached new depths” and “must end now.”
Qatar in March called on international leaders to bring Israel’s nuclear facilities under the watch of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Chile’s president has sharply criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza as the South American nation seeks to replace Israel as Chile’s primary arms supplier.
Slovenia will join several other countries that have legalised the practice, including Australia and Belgium.
Slovenia’s parliament has passed a law giving terminally-ill adults the right to end their lives, after a majority of voters backed the move in a referendum.
Lawmakers approved the bill on Friday, with 50 votes in favour, 34 against and three abstentions, meaning that assisted dying will be allowed in cases of unbearable suffering in which all treatment options have been exhausted.
The right to assisted dying will not be available in the case of unbearable suffering resulting from mental illness, according to Slovenia’s STA news agency.
It is expected to come into force in the coming weeks.
In a consultative referendum last year, 55 percent of Slovenians voted in favour of assisted suicide. Opponents of the law may try to gather enough support to force another referendum.
The country’s Commission for Medical Ethics said this week that it remained firm in its position that the bill carries high ethical risks despite several amendments during its passage through parliament.
Tereza Novak, a lawmaker from the governing Freedom Movement, which had supported the bill, told parliament that the “right [to assisted dying] does not represent a defeat for medicine”.
“It would be wrong for medicine to deprive people of their right to die if they want to and medicine cannot help them,” the liberal MP said.
The conservative Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) has denounced the bill, saying it “opens the door to a culture of death, the loss of human dignity and the minimisation of the value of life, in particular of the most vulnerable”.
The vote means the central European country will join several others that allow terminally ill people to receive medical help to end their lives, including Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as some states in the United States.
Last month, the UK parliament voted to legalise assisted dying, although the bill must still clear the upper chamber of parliament.
Foreign minister says Slovenia acted after EU foreign ministers failed to agree on joint action against Israel.
Slovenia has banned far-right Israeli cabinet ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country.
Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon declared the pair personae non gratae on Thursday in what she said was a first for a European Union country.
“We are breaking new ground,” she said.
In a statement, the Slovenian government accused Israel’s National Security Minister Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Smotrich of inciting “extreme violence and serious violations of the human rights of Palestinians” with “their genocidal statements”.
It also noted that both cabinet ministers “publicly advocate the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the forced evictions of Palestinians, and call for violence against the civilian Palestinian population”.
There was no immediate reaction from Israel’s government.
Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, key coalition partners in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, have drawn international criticism for their hard-line stance on the Gaza war and on illegal settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.
Smotrich, who lives in a West Bank settlement, has supported the expansion of settlements and has called for the territory’s annexation.
Settlements are illegal under international law. Last July, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel’s continued presence in occupied Palestinian territory was unlawful, a decision Israel has ignored.
Smotrich has previously called for “total annihilation” in Gaza and said that a Palestinian town in the West Bank should be “wiped out”. Ben-Gvir was an open admirer of Baruch Goldstein, an Israeli who massacred 29 Palestinians as they prayed in Hebron in 1994. He has been convicted multiple times by Israeli courts for “incitement to racism”.
Despite the ministers’ positions, Netanyahu relies heavily on support from the two and from their factions in parliament for the survival of his government.
On May 21, Slovenia’s President Natasa Pirc Musar told the European Parliament that the EU needed to take stronger action against Israel, condemning “the genocide” in Gaza.
Fajon said Slovenia had decided to make the move after EU foreign ministers did not agree on joint action against Israel over charges of human rights violations at a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday.
She said other measures were being prepared, without going into detail.
In June, Britain, Norway, Australia, New Zealand and Canada imposed sanctions on the two Israeli ministers, accusing them of inciting violence against Palestinians.
Last year, Slovenia announced it was recognising a Palestinian state, following on the heels of Norway, Spain, and the Republic of Ireland.
Lexie Limitless, a US YouTuber who became the youngest person to visit every nation in the world at the age of 21, has named her four least-favourite European countries
10:24, 08 Jul 2025Updated 10:25, 08 Jul 2025
Lexie Limitless took to her channel to share her thoughts on the 44 countries in Europe(Image: Lexie Limitless/YouTube)
A globe-trotting YouTuber who has visited every country in the world has shared her thoughts on the 44 nations in Europe, saying there are four she would not return to. American Lexie Limitless holds the impressive title of being the youngest person to visit every country in the world at just 21.
In her latest video, ‘I travelled to every country in Europe so you don’t have to’, Lexie reveals some of her favourite “hidden gems” from the continent – including Slovenia, Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Cesky Krumlov in Czech Republic.
However, she also discusses four nations that didn’t quite hit the mark for her.
Lexie said: “Alright, it’s time to talk about one of my least favourite subjects, and I got to say in advance that travel is so subjective. Places that I’ve been that I didn’t necessarily connect with might not be the same for everyone.
“Everyone’s preferences are different, but I think that the countries that didn’t really leave as much of an impression on me as some of the others in Europe would probably be Belarus, Slovakia, Moldova and Bulgaria.”
Lexie listed four nations with which she didn’t really connect(Image: Lexie Limitless/YouTube)
She continued: “If I had to name a few specifically, I think it was just that in those countries, in particular, it’s so important to know a good local who’s going to show you around and show you all the best spots.”
Lexie believes travel is “mostly about” the people you meet along the way. As she didn’t know anybody in these countries, she had a “really difficult” time obtaining “unique experiences”.
She added that it’s almost “unfair” to compare smaller nations like Moldova or Bulgaria, to a country like Italy, as they have some “advantages” geographically, noting the “diversity” in their “environment“.
The seasoned traveller also stated that she tries to “avoid” naming specific countries that she may not necessarily recommend and would “absolutely love” to go back if she had “more of a purpose” or reason to be there beyond sightseeing.
Belarus, a former Soviet republic, is a landlocked nation in Eastern Europe that shares its borders with Russia, Ukraine, and Poland, among others. Since 1994, it has been ruled by President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been dubbed “Europe’s last dictator.”
Lexie added that travel is “subjective” and “everyone’s preferences are different”(Image: Lexie Limitless/YouTube)
Situated within the heart of the continent, Slovakia borders the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Poland and Ukraine. It was formerly part of Czechoslovakia until the so-called “velvet divorce” in 1993.
Meanwhile, Moldova, another landlocked country and former Soviet republic, is nestled between Ukraine and Romania. The BBC reports that two-thirds of its population share Romanian roots, highlighting their shared heritage.
Bulgaria, situated in the eastern Balkans with a coastline along the Black Sea, is predominantly Slavonic-speaking. Since the fall of Communism, it has been steadily transitioning towards a market economy.
Lexie Limitless, real name Lexie Alford, became the youngest person to travel to every country at the age of 21 and has since travelled around the world, sharing her experiences
Lexie opened up about her experiences exploring Europe(Image: Lexie Limitless/YouTube)
A globe-trotting traveller who’s visited every country in Europe has claimed one nation on the continent has the bluest water she’s “ever seen”. Lexie Limitless, a US YouTuber who became the youngest person to visit every country at the age of 21, has opened up about her experiences exploring Europe, highlighting some of the continent’s “underrated” nations.
The adventurous traveller, real name Lexie Alford, boasts half a million YouTube subscribers and broke the record after exploring all 196 countries and now boasts the impressive following. In a Europe-themed video, she reveals six less-traditional but breathtaking destinations across Europe.
Lexie, who also goes by Lexie Limitless on Instagram, described one nation as a cultural “melting pot” with a blend of Islamic and European “influences”, and another as having the most stunningly blue river waters she’s ever encountered.
She remarked: “I would say that one of the top underrated places has to be Slovenia. There are some incredible hiking paths and literally the bluest water I’ve ever seen in rivers.”
Slovenia had “literally the bluest water” she’d ever seen in rivers(Image: Getty Images)
Slovenia, formerly part of Yugoslavia, is a small nation situated in Central Europe. It is bordered by Austria in the north, Italy to the West, Croatia to the south, and Hungary to the northeast.
In addition to its dazzling waters, Slovenia also boasts many impressive caves. In fact, it’s home to more than 10,000, including the World Heritage-listed Krizna Jama Cave and the 20km Postojna.
She gushed: “I also loved Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Again, incredible river running through this city that really felt like a melting pot between both Islamic and European influences, with a lot of very rich history to learn while you’re there.”
Further sharing her travel tales, Lexie said: “I think also the cutest little village I’ve ever been to, which I actually saw in one of those…while I was on one of those river cruises, was a place called eský Krumlov in the Czech Republic.”
Describing the locale, Lexie spoke of its “crazy bridges” and “aqueduct-looking architecture”, as well as its “beautiful rivers” and “adorable cafes”.
She referred to it as “quintessentially” the European village of everyone’s Disney-inspired dreams.
Ljubljana Castle in Ljubljana, Slovenia(Image: Getty Images)
However, not stopping at just these gems, Lexie also praised Sweden in the summertime, the picturesque Valle Verzasca in Switzerland, and the enchanting Bruges in Belgium, which cinephiles might recall from the 2008 Colin Farrell movie ‘In Bruges’.
Topping her list of favourite countries globally is the secluded mountain kingdom of Bhutan in Asia, which is nestled between India and China. Lexie highlighted Bhutan for its unique distinction of being deemed the “happiest country in the world”.
She also hailed Bhutan as one of the globe’s “best-kept secrets”, insisting that the world has “so much to learn from this tiny country”.
Historically part of the Austria-Hungarian Empire until its collapse at the end of World War I, Slovenia was one of the six republics that formed Yugoslavia.
In December 1990, the Slovenian independence referendum resulted in a 94.8% vote in favour of establishing an independent Slovenia.
The formal declaration of independence was on June 26th 1991. Still, since much of the legislation relating to independence was passed on June 25th, it is this date that is remembered and celebrated on Statehood Day.
The Declaration of Independence set a future course for the newly independent state. Independence was declared at a public event in Republic Square on June 26th 1991, when the flag of the Republic of Slovenia replaced the flag of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia in front of the parliament.
However, the festivities were short-lived as the proclamation started the Ten-Day war with Yugoslavia. Yugoslav army tanks headed from barracks in Slovenia and Croatia to Slovenia’s borders with Italy, Austria and Hungary, triggering a ten-day war of independence.
Following a ceasefire based on the July 7th 1991 Brijuni Declaration, brokered by the EU’s predecessor, and a subsequent three-month independence process moratorium, the last Yugoslav troops left Slovenia in October 1991.
Croatia also celebrates Statehood Day on the same day, as it was also a state created from the dissolution of Yugoslavia.