MPs reject referendum on cultural rights of people from ex-Yugoslavia

The junior opposition party New Slovenia (NSi) proposed the referendum to ask voters whether they agree with the implementation of special cultural rights of members of ex-Yugoslav ethnic communities living in Slovenia.

The parliament's discussion on the coalition-sponsored bill that prompted the referendum proposal was suspended because of the referendum motion.

The NSi believes that regulating the special rights of other ethnic communities than the Slovenian in the country has no legal basis in the Constitution. It is also not necessary, the party said, claiming that children in ex-Yugoslav ethnic communities in Slovenia had more rights than ethnic Slovenian children in any of the other ex-Yugoslav countries.

Meanwhile, the coalition argues that the bill enables better integration. Discussing the matter before the vote, the ruling party the Freedom Movement said that the referendum motion was a way to delay the parliamentary procedure on the bill.

The junior coalition parties, the SocDems and Left, warned about disinformation and attempts to fuel "base passions", with the former pointing out that the bill had been amended to scrap an article dedicated to the learning of native language for children in ex-Yugoslav ethnic communities.

The largest opposition party, the Democrats (SDS) agreed with the NSi.