In the late 1980s in Slovenia, which was part of Yugoslavia at the time, intellectuals, cultural figures and some politicians began to act in view of achieving a pluralistic democratic political system, market economy and independence.

These endeavours, marked by a number of milestones – such as the publication of Issue 57 of the magazine Nova revija, the “trial against the four” in Ljubljana in which J. Janša, I. Borštner, F. Zavrl and D. Tasič were condemned for their “hostile activities” (the JBTZ Affair), the adoption of the national programme known as the May Declaration, and the Slovenian delegation leaving the Party Congress of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia – finally led to the first ever multiparty elections that were held on 8 April 1990.

The voters were called to choose the 240 delegates of the then three house Assembly. On 8 April voters selected the 80 delegates of the socio-political house and the 80 delegates of the house of municipalities, and on 12 April they cast their ballots for the 80 delegates of the house of associated labour.

The Assembly was won by Demos, the presidential race by Milan Kučan.

The voter turnout was 83.5%, and the coalition of newly established democratic parties, united in a Democratic coalition of Slovenia called Demos, won with 54.8% share of the vote. Demos was, consequently, entitled to form a government. The government, which was led by Lojze Peterle, was appointed on 16 April 1990.