By erecting the monument, the government wants to "contribute to the reconciliation of different idealogical views in the society," said Labour, Family and Social Affairs Minister Ivan Svetlik told the press. He believes the monument will have a tremendous symbolic value.

The memorial has been planned for years and the ministry had formed a special task force looking into the possible locations of the monument.

In 2009, changes were made to the war grave sites act, under which Slovenia is to erect a monument to all war victims who died on its territory inscribed with a verse by one of Slovenia's greatest poets, Oton Zupancic, dedicated to the homeland.

Congress Square, where the monument is planned, has been the venue of a number of historic events for the Slovenian nation. The recently renovated square that has been closed for traffic was built for the Congress of the Holy Alliance in 1821, while the nearby park was set up a few years later, becoming Ljubljana's first public park.