It has been six months since the institution of the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia has been operating without a head, as the mandate of Petar Svetina expired on 23 February 2025. His deputy, Ivan Šelih, temporarily took over the leadership, who warned in a letter to the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr. Nataša Pirc Musar, on 25 August 2025, that such an arrangement only enables urgent operational activities, but cannot replace strategic leadership, which can only be provided by a head with a fully legitimate position at the head of the institution.

"Without an elected head with a full mandate, the Ombudsman institution cannot fully perform its fundamental constitutional and legal role — to strategically plan its work, respond to complex social challenges and, with the necessary persuasiveness, warn about human rights violations caused by authorities or public authorities," warns Šelih. Without legitimate leadership, the Ombudsman is limited to reactive handling of complaints, which reduces its effectiveness and authority, undermines legitimacy, and threatens the hard-won public trust in its work. Long-term temporary leadership causes uncertainty and leads to the gradual exhaustion of the institution.

Šelih also warns that the situation is particularly critical due to the upcoming re-accreditation by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI). In 2022, after more than twenty years of efforts, the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Slovenia obtained the A status under the Paris Principles, which is the highest possible international recognition for an institution for its independence and compliance with United Nations standards in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms. This status allows for full participation in United Nations sessions, includes the right to vote in international bodies, and strengthens Slovenia's reputation as a country that respects human rights. A prolonged situation without an appointed head of the Ombudsman could seriously jeopardise this status, as President Dr. Pirc Musar recently warned. "Losing the A status would be a serious blow to Slovenia's reputation and would mean that the country is unable to ensure the independence of its own human rights institution," warns Šelih.

An additional problem is the appointment of deputies. The mandate of one of them expires on 1 April 2026, and the Ombudsman must submit a new proposal to the National Assembly no later than six months before the end of his or her term, i.e. by 1 October 2025. Without an appointed Ombudsman, the institution cannot begin this procedure, which will further weaken the management structure.

Deputy Ombudsman Ivan Šelih also wrote in his letter that the role of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, together with the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, in seeking political consensus and ensuring the election is crucial for the stability of the institution and maintaining its authority, which is necessary for the exercise of the constitutional and legal role of the Ombudsman. The Deputy therefore appeals to decision-makers to let reason and responsibility prevail for the good of the institution and the people, which will enable the election of a new Ombudsman as soon as possible. "A long-term situation without legitimate leadership represents a serious democratic deficit and limits the effectiveness of the institution, which is neither productive nor constructive for the country and its people," warns Deputy Ombudsman Ivan Šelih.