Slovenia's referendum on the parliamentary inquiry bill ended in defeat for the government, with opponents of the measure prevailing by the slimmest of margins in a vote that drew record participation.

A narrow result with wide consequences

With 99 percent of votes counted, 51 percent of voters opposed the proposal and 49 percent backed it, according to partial results. Turnout reached 53.7 percent of eligible voters, the highest ever recorded for a referendum in Slovenia, despite predictions of low participation from media and analysts.

• •51 percent against the bill, 49 percent in favour
• •99 percent of votes counted at the time of reporting
• •Turnout of 53.7 percent, a referendum record

What the bill would have done

Under the proposed law, individuals summoned to testify before parliamentary inquiries would have had to appear immediately, with no right to challenge the summons in court until the commission finished its work. The opposition argued that those summoned might be forced to disclose sensitive information and said the government was effectively setting up a "political police".

The wider reform agenda under fire

The referendum result lands on an agenda the opposition has denounced as "authoritarian". Jansa, a political veteran and admirer of US President Donald Trump, promised a "cheaper state but with better quality". He came to power after liberal former prime minister Robert Golob failed to form a government despite his party's narrow victory in March parliamentary elections. Among his proposals are cutting public-sector jobs and reducing funding for rights groups, moves that have drawn criticism from political opponents.

Golob's warning before the vote

In the run-up to the referendum, opposition leader Robert Golob warned that the two million people in the EU member country faced "a real test of how resilient Slovenian democracy is".

The rejection stands as the binding result, sealed by a turnout of 53.7 percent, the highest ever for a referendum in Slovenia.