Her allegations, first raised in late 2025
Ljubljana, Slovenia — March 20, 2026 — The Slovenian parliament voted to lift the legal immunity of former Prime Minister Robert Golob, enabling prosecutors to pursue allegations that he improperly sought to influence police personnel decisions during his tenure. The move follows claims by the former interior minister that Golob directly urged her to intervene in police staffing matters, a charge he has denied. The decision marks a significant escalation in an ongoing probe into potential abuse of power by Slovenia’s former leadership. The investigation centers on accusations that Golob, while serving as prime minister from 2022 to 2024, pressured the then-interior minister to favor certain candidates in police appointments and transfers, allegedly to consolidate political control over law enforcement. Prosecutors say the former interior minister provided testimony detailing specific instances where Golob made direct requests to alter personnel outcomes, which she refused to carry out.
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The High-Stakes Fight for Senate Majority ControlHer allegations, first raised in late 2025, triggered a preliminary inquiry that has now advanced to a formal stage due to the parliamentary vote. Golob maintains his innocence, calling the claims politically motivated and baseless, and says he never overstepped his constitutional authority in matters of internal security. What Specific Actions Are Alleged to Have Occurred According to the former interior minister’s testimony, Golob contacted her multiple times between late 2022 and mid-2023 to advocate for the promotion of individuals perceived as loyal to his political circle, while seeking to block transfers of officers deemed unfavorable. She stated that these communications occurred outside official channels and were framed as personal appeals rather than policy directives. Investigators have obtained call logs and internal memos that corroborate the timing of these interactions, though no written orders have been produced.
The prosecutor’s office has indicated it aims to file formal charges within the
The minister emphasized that she declined to act on the requests, citing legal and ethical obligations to maintain police independence. Forensic auditors are now reviewing promotion records from that period to assess whether any irregularities align with the alleged timeline. How Might This Affect Golob’s Political Future Although Golob left office in 2024 and no longer holds public office, the lifting of immunity exposes him to potential criminal charges, including abuse of office and violation of police autonomy laws, which carry penalties of up to three years in prison if proven. His political party, the Freedom Movement, has distanced itself from the allegations, stating it will cooperate with investigators while affirming Golob’s right to defend himself. Analysts suggest the case could weaken public trust in Slovenia’s anti-corruption institutions if perceived as politicized, or strengthen them if conducted transparently.
The prosecutor’s office has indicated it aims to file formal charges within the next six months, pending further evidence collection, including witness interviews and financial disclosures tied to the individuals allegedly favored in police appointments. Frequently Asked Questions What specific legal immunity was removed for Robert Golob? The parliamentary vote lifted Golob’s constitutional immunity as a former prime minister, which previously shielded him from criminal prosecution for actions taken while in office. This allows prosecutors to formally investigate and potentially charge him without needing additional parliamentary approval. Is there any evidence beyond the former interior minister’s testimony? Investigators have referenced call logs, internal ministry memos, and personnel records that support the timeline and context of the alleged interactions, though no direct written orders from Golob to interfere have been found so far. What happens if Golob is charged and convicted?
If charged and found guilty of abuse of office or violating police independence laws, Golob could face a prison sentence of up to three years, a fine, and a potential ban from holding public office for a defined period, depending on the court’s ruling.
