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Zoran Jankovič's Positive Slovenia wins the election over Janša' SDS against all odds. Janković fails to organize the parliament. Gregor Virant does it instead. Centrist Virant, who came only fourth in the election now becomes the man who runs the show. His next move: last-minute rejection of Janković's coalition invitation, what has eventually led into a situation, where the election winner could not ally with enough MPs to form a parliamentary majority. Now the most obvious option is Janša's turn to attempt forming a coalition. For that, he needs a call from his archenemy President of the Republic, and, of course, parliamentary majority, none of which is certain.
Strange enough, if Janković has attracted the voters, he has failed to convince the politicians. Not a few weeks ago, commentators were certain that forming this coalition would be easier than ever, as the political programmes too seemed more similar than ever.
But again, it has all became a matter of egos. There is Janša, a politician, who many Slovenians consider a divine representative, and there is Janković, a manager, who can, among other miracles, make his employees cry simply because the former sacks him from the management. And let's not forget Virant, who is either still waiting for the best bid, or has figured that ideological ecumenism can propel him above the other two in the long run.
Janković's appearance in the parliament, along with his failure to appoint the speaker was accompanied with mixed emotions. For a moment, the parliament seemed a kindergarten. As a columnist has put it: Janković's entry as a newcomer provoked a standard reaction of the parliamentary natives, "who expect you to learn the house rules, before start issuing the commands" - a ritual known to many institutions, from schools to prisons, with parliament apparently being no exception.
Janković, a man with excellent record as a businessman, and a Mayor, who has ruled a town with absolute majority in the city council, has to learn a new, uncommon skill: political compromises. To be more specific - political compromises in Slovenian manner. All in a time, when nothing seems certain and predictable anymore. To make such kind of compromise - and at the same time remain useful and operative - that is something only true masters can handle. Is there one? We don't know. Yet.
Despite alarms are already ringing loudly that a lasting government crisis leads to a further deterioration of already unfavourable business conditions, the mess might even have few positive aspects. Speculating that so much troubles in the initial phases could end up in a more stable government in the end sounds a bit naive. More substanital is the ever stronger signal, that in order to reach a long term political stabilty and legislative efficiency, changing the voting system along with some other constitutional changes might be essential.