Year 2000

07. June 2000

Photo: Primož Predalič/Salomon 2000, source: Government Communication Office

Andrej Bajuk forms a coalition government

Social Democratic Party of Slovenia and SLS+SKD Slovenian People's Party form a coalition government led by Andrej Bajuk, after the third Drnovšek’s cabinet was toppled following a constructive no-confidence vote on 8 April (the government term ends on 30 November 2000).

15. September 2000 - 01. October 2000

The first olympic gold medal

At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, rowers Iztok Čop and Luka Špik win the first ever gold for the independent country in double sculls (photo: Uroš Hočevar/Salomon 2000, source: Government Communication Office), and shooter Rajmond Debevec wins gold in rifle three-position.

07. October 2000

Davo Karničar skies non-stop down the Mount Everest

Slovenian extreme skier Davo Karničar skies non-stop down the world’s highest mountain Mount Everest (8850m). He becomes the first man ever to accomplish such a feat.

15. October 2000

The third parliamentary elections

The third parliamentary elections since Slovenia's independence are won by the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia, which received 36,26 percent of the vote, while The Social Democratic Party of Slovenia attracts 15.8 % of the preliminary vote, the United List of Social Democrats of Slovenia 12.08 %, Slovenian People's Party 9,54%, the New Slovenia - Christian People's Party 8,66%, the Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia 5,17%, the Slovenian National Party 4,39% and the Youth Party of Slovenia 4,34%.

30. November 2000

Photo: Robert Balen/Salomon 2000, source: Government Communication Office

Janez Drnovšek forms his fourth government

Janez Drnovšek forms his fourth government composed of Liberal Democracy of Slovenia, United list of Social Democrats, Slovenian People's Party and Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia (the government term ends on 19 December 2000).

Overview of the year

The parliament passed a vote of no confidence to the third government of Mr. Drnovšek and the new prime minister became the president of the formerly opposition New Slovenia party, Andrej Bajuk. The new government was in office in the beginning of June. The new government lasted only until parliamentary elections in the mid-October in which liberal democrats won by a landslide and Janez Drnovšek formed his fourth coalition government with social democrats (ZLSD), People’s Party (SLS) and the pensioners’ parts (DeSUS), which was elected into office at the end of November.

The year 2000 was a year of celebrating the 200th anniversary of birth of France Prešeren, the greatest Slovenian poet, who also wrote words to the Slovenian national anthem, Zdravljica. The European Biennial of Contemporary Art, Manifesta 3, was held in Ljubljana between June and September. It was one of the most widely covered cultural events of all times in Slovenia.

Major sporting events of the year included Slovenian skier Špela Pretnar winning the alpine skiing world cup, Slovenian athletes, Iztok Čop and Luka Špik in rowing and Rajmond Debevec in 50 metre rifle three positions, winning two gold medals at the Sydney Olympics, Slovenian national football team qualifying for the European Football Championship and Slovenian alpine skier Davo Karničar being the first person to ski Mount Everest from the top to the foot.

The transitional period of validity of two health insurance documents, health ID card and health insurance card, ended and an extensive pension reform was adopted.

Text: Government Communication Office