Following the model of other parliaments, the National Assembly also houses a permanent exhibition of portraits of all presidents of the National Assembly. The presidents of the National Assembly are the first among equals whose leadership had an impact on individual parliamentary terms.

First Among Equals

The walls of the first-floor corridor, next to the entrance to the Large Reception Room, are adorned by portraits of the former presidents and the current president of the National Assembly. Among these is a portrait of the president of the first multiparty Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia France Bučar.

The gallery of the presidents of the National Assembly is located in the first floor corridor, in front of the Large Reception Room.

The exhibition includes thirty-one black and white photographs documentarily following the events that took place on Wednesday, 9 May 1990, the day when the first session of the newly-elected multiparty Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia was held.

The foundation of multi-party democracy

The photography exhibit ‘The Moment's Turning Point’ by Tone Stojko (from the collection of the National Museum of Contemporary History), Srdjan Živulović and Joc Žnidaršič is displayed in the first-floor corridor of the building at Tomšičeva Street. The exhibition includes thirty-one black and white photographs documenting events that took place on Wednesday, 9 May 1990, the day when the first session of the newly elected multiparty Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia was held. The title of the exhibition ‘The Moment's Turning Point is taken from a formal address. 

The joint session of all three chambers was led by the eldest deputy, Karel Franko, who was later joined by Ludvik Toplak. France Bučar was elected President of the Assembly (his opponent was Jožef Školč), and in his inaugural address he stressed that, "By constituting this Assembly, we may well say that the civil war, which has been breaking and paralysing us for almost half a century, is now over." Vane Gošnik and Vitodrag Pukl became vice-presidents of the Assembly.  At the end of the session, the president and members of the Presidency of the Republic of Slovenia, Milan Kučan, Ciril Zlobec, Dušan Plut, Matjaž Kmecl and Ivan Oman, also took the oath-of-office. The address by the President of the Presidency, Milan Kučan, was interpreted in sign language.

In the first democratic elections in April 1990, delegates from the following political parties were elected to the Socio-Political Chamber of the tricameral Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia:

• Demos Coalition,
• Slovenian Christian Democrats,
• Slovenian Farmers' Alliance – People's Party,
• Slovenian Democratic Alliance,
• Greens of Slovenia,
• Social Democratic Party of Slovenia, and
• Slovenian Craftsmen's Party – Liberal Party,
• Party of Democratic Renewal,
• Socialist Youth Alliance of Slovenia, and
• Socialist Party of Slovenia.

The Demos Coalition won 126 seats out of 240 in three chambers. The delegates from the Chamber of Communes elected the Christian Democrate, Ivo Bizjak, as their president, and Janez Lukač as vice-president. Independent candidate Jože Zupančič was elected president of the Chamber of Associated Labour, and Bogo Robina, member of the Slovenian Craftsmen and Entrepreneurs Party, was elected vice-president. The Socio-Political Chamber elected Ludvik Toplak from the Slovenian Farmers' Alliance as president, and Anton Peršal from the Slovenian Democratic Alliance as vice-president.

Srdjan Živulović–Bobo (1959) from Studenčice pri Medvodah is a photographer, director and owner of Bobo Photo Agency. He worked as photo-journalist for Delo daily newspaper, as well as for the domestic and foreign media, various ministries, and he is a permanent member of Reuters Agency. He took photos during the official visits of Pope John Paul II, presidents Bill Clinton, Vladimir Putin and George Bush, the Queen of England, and events organised in association with Slovenia's Presidency of the EU Council. His photos have appeared in numerous publications. He was awarded the Yugoslav Photo of 1989 prize (for Women Struggling for Their Daily Bread).

Joco Žnidaršič (1938) from Ljubljana studied at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ljubljana, but later took up photography and became a press and art photographer, an international master of art photography – EFIAP, a member of the Anton Ažbe Photo Club of Škofja Loka, a freelance photo-journalist and co-owner of Veduta AŽ publishing house. He has worked for the weeklies Študentska Tribuna, Tedenska Tribuna, the magazine Tovariš, and since 1974 until his retirement for the daily newspaper Delo. He has published numerous monographs, including Bohinj (1978, 1986), Josip Broz Tito (1980), Photo (1982), Planica (1985), Ljubljana (1987), War for Slovenia (1991), Slovenia's Treasures (1983, 1993, 2009), Slovenian Vineyards (1993, 2000), Slovenian Wines (1997), Leon Štukelj (1998), Path to My Father (1998), Meet Me at the Market (1999), Ten Years of the Slovenian State (2001), Golf in Slovenia (2001), Lipizzaner (2004), Slovenia, My Country (2004) and Eternal Bohinj (2006). He has won over sixty Slovenian and foreign awards, among which are the World Press Photo, Prešeren Fund Award, the Župančič Award, the Puhar Plaque for lifetime achievements, the Consortium Veritatis Award and the Golden Order of Merit of the Republic of Slovenia (2009).

The plebiscite on independent and sovereign Slovenia laid the legal foundations for the new state. By an overwhelming majority, Slovene people almost unanimously declared in favour of an independent state. The announcement of the results in the Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia was captured in fourteen black and white photos by Tone Stojko.

The announcement of results of the plebiscite on the independence of Slovenia

Due to the rising tensions in Yugoslavia, the Demos parliamentary majority wished to repeal the old socialist legislation as soon and as radically as possible. Demos and the Opposition for the most part cooperated on the project to establish an independent Slovenian state. The result of this cooperation was the parliamentary decision to hold a plebiscite on an independent and sovereign Slovenian state.

At a joint session of all three chambers on 6 December 1990, the Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Plebiscite on the Sovereignty and Independence of Slovenia Act by a large majority.

The plebiscite was held on Sunday, 23 December 1990; 93.2% of eligible voters turned out, and 88.2% of all votes were cast ‘FOR’ a sovereign and independent state of Slovenia, which accounted for 95% of all voters who participated. The result led to great enthusiasm among the Slovenes. This act of popular self-determination laid the basis for Slovenia's subsequent national independence.

The plebiscite result was formally announced at a session of the Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia on 26 December 1990. The events were captured on camera by Tone Stojko and the photos are on display at the premises of the Public Relations Office.

The presentation of gifts is common in diplomacy – it is considered a confirmation of successful cooperation in the past and paves the way for the future. All gifts received – the National Assembly stores over 600 from 60 countries – are the property of the Republic of Slovenia.

The gifts forge close ties between countries

Gift giving is an old habit and one of the world's oldest traditions. Gift giving is not merely a ceremony, something that happens by coincidence, or a nice gesture, but is a constant feature of diplomatic relations and meetings of state officials. Modern diplomacy is familiar with the practice of the mutual exchange of gifts which – considering the unspoken rule of modesty – is arranged in advance by the protocol representatives of both parties.

The Slovenian house of democracy hosts protocol events on a daily basis; therefore, the variety of protocol gifts reflects the variety of everyday political and international activity in the National Assembly. The protocol gifts which are permanently displayed in the National Assembly reflect the contacts between states and different cultures and are mainly put in the spotlight on the occasion of meetings of Slovenian high representatives abroad and official visits by foreign high representatives to Slovenia. In some countries, it is also customary to present gifts to hosts on working visits. This is considered a token of politeness and attention.

The selection of protocol gifts is subject to standards according to the position and status of the statesman and members of the delegation. In this respect, the host's scope of work, nationality, religion, interests or hobbies are specifically observed. Slovenian protocol gifts are made in the Republic of Slovenia and represent Slovenian cultural heritage. As a general rule, the host presents the main guest with a gift on behalf of the country, but one which is more modest than the one given by the guest. If the guest does not present the host with a gift, in principle, neither does the host.

We keep a register in the National Assembly of gifts presented and a register of gifts received by deputies. A selection of protocol gifts is exhibited in glass display cases in the lobby of the Great Hall's balcony.