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. 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. 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". The
Constitution of Slovenia provides for a
parliamentary system of government, whereby the presidency is a predominantly ceremonial institution with limited political power. 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. 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. 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. Thus, the powers and duties at the president's disposal are generally exercised either in their 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.
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. ;Convene extraordinary sessions of the National Assembly: The president of the Republic may convene an
extraordinary session of the National Assembly. 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. ;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: • The National Assembly fails to elect a prime minister within 30 days from the start of a new parliamentary session; or • The National Assembly passes a
vote of no confidence in the Government and fails to elect a new prime minister within 30 days. ;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. ;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.
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. ;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. The National Assembly in turn confirms or rejects the candidates so nominated. If confirmed, the nominees are formally appointed to office by the president. ;Represent Slovenia in foreign relations: The president of the Republic acts as Slovenia's supreme representative in international affairs. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Other duties have been conferred on the president by virtue of Slovenia's Defense Act. For example, the president: •
commissions all
generals,
admirals, and other
commissioned officers of the Armed Forces; • 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; • 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; • receives regular briefings from the
Intelligence and Security Service; • 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; • orders the
mobilisation of the Armed Forces, but only on the proposal of the Government; and • 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. ;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. The president may accept or refuse the Government's request.
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. 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. ;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. ;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. 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. 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. ;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. ;Confer and revoke state honours: The president of the Republic is Slovenia's
fount of honour. 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. == List of presidents of Slovenia ==