Slovenia's liberal PM Golob claims victory over conservatives in neck-and-neck vote

Slovenia's liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob has claimed victory in the country's parliamentary elections, narrowly edging out the conservatives. The vote, which was expected to be tight, saw Golob's liberal party secure 29 seats in the 90-seat parliament, compared to 28 for the conservative party led by veteran politician Janez Jansa. The results were announced after 99.85 percent of the votes were counted, with Golob's party securing 28.62 percent of the vote, just ahead of the conservatives' 27.95 percent.

The election was marked by controversy, with allegations of foreign interference and secretly recorded videos suggesting alleged graft in Golob's government. Authorities are currently investigating whether an Israeli company was behind the videos. Despite the challenges, Golob expressed optimism about the future, saying that his party would work to grant a better future to all citizens in its next mandate.

The election outcome is likely to lead to tough negotiations between the parties, with Golob promising to "do everything to grant a better future to all citizens" and Jansa warning that he would not form a "weak government". The formation of a stable government may be difficult, given the fragmented nature of the vote, with several smaller parties entering parliament.

As Slovenia looks to the future, Golob's victory may have implications for the country's relationships with its European Union partners. Under his leadership, Slovenia has taken a more progressive stance on issues such as same-sex marriage and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

With the results now clear, Golob and his party will begin the process of forming a new government. The coming days will be crucial in determining the direction of Slovenia's politics and its relationships with the rest of Europe.