According to unofficial results of a consultative referendum held in several different parts of the country, voters backed at least 12 new municipalities on Sunday on a turnout of around 60%.
The official results are expected to be released on 7 February and would act as a guide for the cabinet in drafting changes to legislation that would establish new municipalities. However, the results are not be binding for parliament.
Voters were against two would-be municipalities (Ankaran-Hrvatini; Bizeljsko), whereas the majority in the area of Rimske Toplice was in favour of a new municipality, yet the same municipality was opposed by the people of Zidani Most.
The division of the Dobrova-Polhov Gradec municipality into two municipalities was back only by the people of Dobrova, while those in Polhov Gradec were against.
In line with legislation, each of the new 12 would-be municipalities would have more than 2,000 inhabitants, yet less than 5,000.
The referendum was called by parliament in early December as the first in a series of steps required to establish new municipalities.
The debate on new municipalities comes ahead of local elections scheduled for this autumn.
All the procedures related to their establishment need to be completed by 25 March if the new municipalities are to be included in this year's local elections.
Slovenia has 193 municipalities, a number regarded as rather high given its relatively small size and population of around 2 million.
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