Slovenia's public institutions face a complex environment with fluctuating trust levels, influenced by economic cycles, political events, and global crises. While trust in institutions like the police and courts is relatively high, levels in the national government and parliament remain below the OECD average, particularly among younger generations. Key concerns include the cost of living, corruption, and social inequality.
The report highlights the importance of evidence-based decision-making and transparency in fostering trust. While satisfaction with education and administrative services is on par with the OECD average, healthcare satisfaction lags behind. Perceptions of government integrity and fairness are also lower than the OECD average, with only a minority believing civil servants would treat service users fairly or refuse bribes.
Slovenian trust gaps are narrower than the OECD average for most socio-economic and demographic characteristics, except for age, where the gap is larger. Political attitudes and perceptions of political agency play a significant role in shaping trust levels, with partisanship having a notable impact.
The report identifies key drivers of trust for different institutions. For the national government, evidence-based decision-making and intergenerational fairness are crucial. Satisfaction with administrative services and openness in local decision-making processes are key drivers for local government and the civil service.
The report emphasizes the need for a shared understanding of reality based on trustworthy information. While traditional media remains the primary source of information, concerns about misinformation and the trustworthiness of news media are growing. The report suggests improving public communication strategies, promoting media pluralism, and enhancing media literacy to strengthen trust in public institutions.
