Restrictions of Freedom of Assembly and Association in Slovenia during COVID-19 Pandemic Cover Image

Ograniczenia wolności zgromadzeń i stowarzyszania się w Słowenii w dobie pandemii COVID-19
Restrictions of Freedom of Assembly and Association in Slovenia during COVID-19 Pandemic

Author(s): Małgorzata Podolak, Elżbieta Kużelewska
Subject(s): Constitutional Law, Civil Law, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Civil Society, Government/Political systems
Published by: Temida 2
Keywords: Constitutional Court; civil rights; freedom of assembly; freedom of association; political rights; Slovenia;

Summary/Abstract: Slovenia is one of the European Union Member States which disproportionately restricted political rights during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the new government of Prime Minister Janez Janša came to power in March 2020, the anti-government and anti-lockdown protests have been taking place across the country. The pandemic-related restrictions have been introduced by government’s ordinances. They have greatly limited political rights of citizens, in particular the right to public assembly and association. Citizens’ dissatisfaction with the government’s policies and inadequate handling of the epidemic, resulting in undue restrictions on liberty and other fundamental rights, led to the filing of petitions to the Constitutional Court. The Constitutional Court, resolving the dispute between citizens and the government, ruled that government regulations implementing restrictions on fundamental rights, particularly the rights to public assembly and association, were unconstitutional in several cases.

  • Issue Year: 2/2022
  • Issue No: 27
  • Page Range: 251-263
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Polish