After months of political deadlock, Slovenia’s National Assembly elected jurist Simona Drenik Bavdek as the country’s new human rights ombudsman at its final session before the March parliamentary elections.
Drenik Bavdek, a doctor of law and assistant professor of constitutional and international law, succeeds Peter Svetina, whose mandate expired in February 2025, leaving the post vacant for almost a year.
Best known to the wider public as Slovenia’s agent in the border arbitration case with Croatia, she was endorsed by the ruling coalition with decisive support from the opposition New Slovenia (NSi), independent MPs and the Italian minority representative, while the largest opposition party SDS boycotted the vote.
Welcoming the appointment, Drenik Bavdek said the outcome proved that “human rights are a value that counts in this country,” describing the ombudsman as a bridge between the state and civil society. She announced that her priorities will include stronger implementation of international human rights standards in Slovenian legislation and efforts to establish a dedicated children’s rights ombudsman to better protect the most vulnerable members of society.
