A high-profile spy scandal has erupted in Slovenia, already being called one of the most serious in the country’s history. Just days before parliamentary elections scheduled for March 22, authorities accused the private Israeli intelligence company Black Cube of interfering in the election process.
According to an investigation conducted by a group of journalists, activists from the 8 March Institute, and independent researchers, Black Cube representatives (including the company’s founder and CEO, Dan Zorella, and former head of Israel’s National Security Council, Giora Eiland) visited Ljubljana in December 2025. Sources claim they met on December 22 with Janez Janša, the leader of the opposition conservative SDS party and the main rival of incumbent Prime Minister Robert Golob.
The scandal erupted after a series of leaks: secret audio recordings and hidden video footage featuring former ministers, lawyers, and lobbyists allegedly discussing corruption schemes, political influence, and hidden financing. The authors of the investigation claim that Black Cube was behind the organization of these compromising materials aimed at the ruling party.
Prime Minister Robert Golob called the incident a “direct attack on Slovenia’s sovereignty” and accused “foreign intelligence services” of interfering in the elections. Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon stated in Brussels: “This is unprecedented interference in the country’s internal affairs.” Slovenia’s intelligence agency, SOVA, officially confirmed the presence of Black Cube representatives in the country in December and reported signs of “direct foreign interference” in the electoral process—most likely commissioned from Slovenia itself.
The opposition categorically denies the accusations. Janez Janša and the SDS party call the events a “dirty election campaign” by Golob’s government and an attempt to divert attention from its own corruption scandals. The leader of the conservatives maintains that no meetings with Israeli representatives were illegal, and that the leaks were a provocation by the authorities.
The scandal has seriously inflamed the already tense pre-election atmosphere. Polls show SDS leading by a narrow margin, but the outcome remains highly uncertain. Many analysts believe the spy plot could be a decisive factor on election day.
Elections to the National Assembly of Slovenia will be held this Sunday, March 22, 2026.