The eGovernment portal is on the move right now: problems with referendum signatures too

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Public Administration has issued a statement regarding technical difficulties with the eUprava portal, which affects the submission of electronic signatures for a constitutional referendum on the intervention law for Slovenia's development. The issue was reported by several citizens who attempted to submit their signatures during the ongoing collection period. According to the ministry, the problems are not limited solely to the submission of electronic signatures but affect broader services through the portal. The eUprava portal has been experiencing issues just as the public begins submitting signatures in support of the proposed constitutional referendum. The referendum aims to approve a law that includes measures such as reducing VAT on basic food items, temporary reductions in VAT for energy providers, and provisions aimed at improving the treatment of small businesses and self-employed individuals. It also introduces changes to tax and social contributions, including the introduction of a cap on social contributions, and eliminates certain mandatory contributions for long-term care for retirees and part-time self-employed individuals. Citizens have reported significant challenges while attempting to submit their signatures via the eUprava platform. Some users described waiting for extended periods for the website to load, while others encountered difficulties during the registration process. One user shared on Facebook that after multiple attempts to complete the process, they were unable to finalize the signature due to system errors. Another individual noted that the portal failed to display the necessary pages even after repeated attempts. These reports highlight the growing frustration among citizens trying to participate in the referendum. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Public Administration confirmed that the technical issues affecting the eUprava portal are not confined to the submission of electronic signatures. They emphasized that the problem extends to other services provided through the portal and assured the public that the situation is being addressed with priority. The ministry stated its commitment to resolving the disruptions as quickly as possible and ensuring uninterrupted service operations. Sindicatal centers have already begun collecting signatures for the referendum, aiming to gather 40,000 verified signatures within 35 days. As of now, approximately 4,622 signatures have been submitted online, though this number does not include those submitted at local administrative units. Despite these efforts, the ongoing technical issues have caused delays and frustrations among participants. Some citizens expressed concern over the reliability of the digital submission process, particularly given the importance of the referendum for shaping future policies related to taxation, social welfare, and economic development. The proposed intervention law, initially drafted by members of the National Assembly from NSi, SLS, Fokus, and Democrats and Resnica, was passed in the State Council on May 11th. Support for the bill came from members of the Slovenian Democratic Party as well. The law includes provisions such as lowering VAT on essential goods, allowing temporary VAT reductions for energy suppliers, and introducing measures to improve the conditions for small businesses and self-employed individuals. It also modifies tax and social contribution systems, including the implementation of a cap on social contributions. Additionally, the law removes restrictions on doctors working in private practice, introduces automatic retirement and the possibility of receiving full salary and pension simultaneously, and abolishes mandatory contributions for long-term care for retirees and part-time self-employed individuals. The law also reduces the taxation of rent.