LJUBLJANA, March 22, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob faces a tough challenge from nationalist ex-premier Janez Jansa -- an admirer of US President Donald Trump -- in Sunday's election after unseating him in 2022.

Here is a look at the two candidates vying to lead the Alpine country of two million, the first ex-Yugoslav state to join the European Union.

- Golob, charismatic liberal -

Golob, the former head of a state-owned power company, was a political newcomer when he became prime minister four years ago.

He pledged "to take the country back to freedom" amid widespread anger after the previous Jansa-led government was accused of cracking down on civil liberties.

Leading a three-party centre-left coalition, the charismatic 59-year-old faced several controversies, including accusations of abuse of power -- which he has denied -- over the appointment of top police officials.

"In these four years Golob has become a fully fledged politician, for good and for bad," political commentator Aljaz Pengov Bitenc told AFP, adding he has learned to "compromise, bend the truth a bit and manipulate".

Despite that, he believes Golob "is a visionary... who motivates people".

Under his watch, Slovenia became one of few EU countries to describe Israel's war in Gaza as "genocide", while his government legalised same-sex marriage.

Golob sported shoulder-length curly hair for the 2022 campaign and toured Slovenia in a bus with his team. This time he wore suits and a straight haircut and cut ribbons at new health and infrastructure projects.

- Jansa, conservative veteran -

From corruption scandals and a spell in prison, conservative three-time premier Jansa has seen a fair share of drama in his long career.

The 67-year-old, an avid climber, is known for his crowd-pleasing rhetoric and combative presence on X.

He attacks opponents and established media alike, echoing the tactics of allies like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Jansa is a veteran of the pro-democracy movements that brought about the collapse of communism and often accuses the old communist elite of exerting malign influence from the shadows.

Heading the anti-migrant Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), he served as prime minister between 2004 and 2008 and again from 2012 until 2013 when he was forced out by a corruption scandal.

Sentenced to two years in jail for bribery, he ran in parliamentary elections in 2014 from his prison cell but lost.

A constitutional court later overturned his conviction and ordered a retrial, but it could not take place as too much time had elapsed.

He started his third mandate as prime minister in 2020, weeks after the Covid-19 epidemic was declared.

Critics accused him of using the extraordinary situation to strengthen the police, attack critical media and civil right groups, which led to frequent run-ins with the European Commission.

Tens of thousands staged regular rallies against him, with Golob's Freedom Movement (GS) winning elections in 2022.

This time Jansa has promised to bring back traditional "Slovenian values" and "close the (state money) pipe" to NGOs he labels political parties.

He has accused Golob's government of carrying out "Cuba-like experiments" and behaving like money "grew on trees".