SLOVENIA:  New government announces reforms to civil society funding, suspending existing grants

The newly elected Slovenian government led by Janez Janša has announced plans to reform the financing of civil society organisations (CSOs), raising concerns about the future sustainability and independence of the civil society sector. The proposed changes include both the funding system and future resources to civil society, but also already planned and implemented publicly funded projects.

During Janša’s previous government in 2020–2022, CSOs faced hostile rhetoric, such as accusations of being “parasites” as well as financial and administrative pressure. In campaign messaging, SDS figures repeatedly suggested the need to “turn off the funding taps” for CSOs critical of the government policies.

For example, on 10 April, coalition parties SDS and NSi filed a parallel request for a parliamentary inquiry into the public funding of NGOs. The move is interpreted as symbolic and political rather than fact-finding. The inquiry request should be read as a first step in a broader campaign that Prime Minister Janša foreshadowed in January 2026, reportedly naming NGOs, the Human Rights Ombudsman, the Information Commissioner, the media, and the judiciary as targets. The stakes extend beyond the NGO sector to the independence of oversight institutions, the rule of law, and democracy more broadly.

Immediately after taking office, the newly appointed interior minister Franci Matoz announced his intention to abolish the NGO Fund and end direct public funding for CSOs. Although no concrete legislative proposal has yet been introduced, the governing coalition agreement provides for replacing the current funding system with one under which CSOs would be financed exclusively through taxpayers’ designation of a portion of their personal income tax. This would abolish existing forms of direct public funding for civil society. CSOs claim that replacing public funding entirely with voluntary taxpayer designations could significantly reduce the financial sustainability of organisations working in areas such as human rights, social services, environmental protection, and culture.