Prime Minister Janez Janša was born on 17September 1958 in Ljubljana. He attended the classical gimnazija in Stična and later graduated from the Faculty of Sociology, Political Science and Journalism, University of Ljubljana, with a degree in defence studies. In the 1980s, he became one of the most visible critics of the ruling communist regime, joined democratic dissident movements, cofounded several small computer companies and wrote for a number of Slovenian magazines. In 1988 he was arrested because of his political views and convicted by a Yugoslav People's Army military court in the infamous JBTZ trial, which triggered the Slovenian Spring.

After the first democratic elections in 1990, he became Minister of Defence and played a pivotal role in establishing the Slovenian Armed Forces and defending Slovenia during the War of Independence in June and July 1991. In 1993, he was elected President of the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) for the first time and has held the position ever since. He has been elected to the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia in every parliamentary election to date and is one of the most prominent figures in Slovenian politics since independence.

Janez Janša previously served as Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia during the terms of 2004–2008, 2012–2013 and 2020–2022. During his first term in office, Slovenia adopted the euro, joined the Schengen area and became the first new Member State to hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. In the first half of 2008, Janez Janša also chaired the European Council. During Slovenia's second Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Janša presided over the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2021.

Throughout his political career, he has fought for respect for human rights and political freedoms, promoted freedom of speech and other fundamental values of a free and democratic society, and demonstrated a steadfast commitment to building a prosperous Slovenia. He is an advocate of Slovenia playing an active role in European and Euro-Atlantic alliances.

He is the author of numerous best-selling books, and is married with four children.

2026: On 22 May 2026, he was elected with 51 votes to serve as Prime Minister of the 16th Government of the Republic of Slovenia, which took office on 4 June 2026.The Government of the Republic of Slovenia comprises the following coalition partners: the Slovenian Democratic Party, the New Slovenia – Christian Democrats and Anže Logar's Democrats.

On 22 March 2026 he was re-elected as a Deputy.

2022–2026:Deputy and President of the SDS.

2020–2022:Prime Minister of the 14th Government of the Republic of Slovenia, which took office on 13 March 2020. The Government of the Republic of Slovenia comprised the following coalition partners: the Slovenian Democratic Party, the New Slovenia – Christian Democrats, the Party of Modern Centre and the Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia.

2018–2020:Deputy and President of the SDS. In the early parliamentary elections, the Slovenian Democratic Party received 24.92% of votes or 25 seats out of 90 in the National Assembly, becoming the election winner but failing to form a government.

2014:In the early election on 13 July 2014, Janez Janša was re-elected as a Deputy. During the election campaign, he was incarcerated following a political show trial related to the Patria affair, thus becoming the only political prisoner in the European Union. Today it is clear that the Patria trial was politically motivated and served to destroy or severely weaken the SDS and remove its president from politics. Moreover, during the confirmation of deputies' terms of office, the governing coalition at the time unconstitutionality and unlawfully revoked Janez Janša's deputy status. Later, the Constitutional Court unanimously annulled the National Assembly's revocation.

2013–2014:Deputy and President of the SDS.

2012:Prime Minister of the 10th Government of the Republic of Slovenia, which took office on 10 February 2012. The Government of the Republic of Slovenia comprised the following coalition partners: the Slovenian Democratic Party, the Civic List of Gregor Virant, the Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia, the Slovenian People's Party and the New Slovenia – Christian People's Party.

2011:He was elected Deputy to the National Assembly in the early parliamentary elections.

2008–2011:Deputy and President of the SDS.

2004–2008:Prime Minister of the 8th Government of the Republic of Slovenia, which took office on 3December 2004. The Government of the Republic of Slovenia comprised the following coalition partners: the Slovenian Democratic Party, the New Slovenia – Christian People's Party, the Slovenian People's Party and the Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia.

On 19November 2007, the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia held a vote of confidence called by Prime Minister Janez Janša in relation to Slovenia's forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union and reconfirmed the Government's term of office.

The Slovenian Government's key achievements between December 2004 and December 2007 included measures that directly affected the lives of Slovenian citizens and brought about exceptional economic performance, a higher employment rate and record-low unemployment. Most of the measures set out in the economic and social reform programme aimed at increasing prosperity and improving the standard of living in Slovenia were implemented, placing Slovenia among the most successful EU Member States in achieving the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy. The Government modernised the tax system in a manner that was internationally comparable and socially sustainable, and removed a number of administrative barriers. Measures were adopted to reduce the burden on the economy and increase its competitiveness in domestic and international markets.

During Janez Janša's term of office, Slovenia became a recognised and successful member of the European Union: on 1January 2007, it adopted the single European currency; on 22December 2007, it eliminated border controls and joined the Schengen area; and, in the first half of 2008, it was the first Member State from the enlargements of 2004 and 2007 to hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. In his capacity as President of the European Council, Janez Janša chaired two European Council meetings and four EU summits with non-EU countries, contributing significantly to the adoption of agreements in various areas of activity of the European Union.

2001–2004:Deputy and President of the SDS.

2000:Minister of Defence from June to October. Achievements: preparation of the second action plan for full NATO membership, realistic assessment of the implementation of the core development programmes of the defence forces for the 1994–2003 period, adoption of a plan for their partial restructuring and completion between 2000 and 2003, and introduction of the right to spiritual care for members of the Slovenian Armed Forces.

1997–1999:Deputy and President of the SDS, head of the Slovenian parliamentary delegation to the North Atlantic Assembly(NAA).

1995–1996:Deputy and President of the SDS.

1990–1994:Minister of Defence. Achievements: formation of the first Slovenian Armed Forces, which, together with the Slovenian Police, defended Slovenia against the aggression of the Yugoslav Army in June 1991 and paved the way for the country's independence.

1993:Elected President of the SDS for the first time.

1990–1991:Vice-president of the Slovenian Democratic Union(SDZ); Deputy, following the first democratic elections; and later, President of the Party Council.

1988:Arrested by the Slovenian secret political police(SDV) due to his dissident activities, detained in custody and tried before a military court without the right to representation by a civilian attorney, sentenced to 18 months in prison.

1987–1989:Co-founder of MikroAda, a computer company functioning as a technical base for dissident activities (printed the working paper for a Slovenian democratic constitution).

1983–1986:Active political opposition to the Communist system via activities in newly emerging peace and environmental movements; writing of critical articles for the publicationsMladina,ProblemiandČasopis za kritiko znanosti, in which he addressed several politically sensitive topics (political pluralism, conscientious objection, cooperation of the SFRY with dictatorships, use of Slovenian in the armed forces).

1982:Appointed President of the Committee for Basic People's Defence and Social Self-Protection as part of the youth organisation League of Socialist Youth of Slovenia (ZSMS). He was dismissed early due to his critical writings on the Yugoslav People's Army (JLA).

Prime MinisterGovernment of the Republic of Slovenia