Slovenia formally recognizes the State of Palestine

4 (EUROPA PRESS)

Slovenia approved this Tuesday the formal recognition of the State of Palestine after the ultra-conservative Slovenian opposition requested the holding of a referendum, thus becoming the 147th member of the United Nations to recognize Palestine as a “sovereign and independent state.”

“Today’s recognition of Palestine as a sovereign and independent State sends hope to the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza,” said Prime Minister Robert Golob, in a message published on the X social network.

The Government of Slovenia approved an initiative last week to advance this recognition, but the approval fell to the legislative branch. On Monday, the Foreign Affairs committee already approved the proposal, a preliminary step to a debate that had been blocked due to the request of the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS).

The National Assembly has approved with 52 votes in favor the formal recognition of Palestine after both the opposition and the ruling coalition have accused each other of breaking the procedure, which required waiting 30 days in the event that a proposal for referendum.