t contained 19,586 km (12,170 mi) of roads in 1998, and its largest cities are connected by railroads. There are also three major airports and a port at Koper on the Adriatic Sea. In October 1991 the republic released its own currency, the tolar, to replace the Yugoslav dinar (166 tolars equal U.S.$1; 1998 average).In early 1993 Slovenia joined the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (since renamed the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE). The republic also revived economic contacts with Austria and Italy and established new relations with Iran, China, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. In June 1996 Slovenia became an associate member of the European Union (EU). In December 1997 it was invited to begin the process of joining the organization as a full member.An emerging democracy, Slovenia has adopted many elements of democratic government. In December 1991 the Slovenian government adopted a constitution that guarantees a number of civil rights, including universal suffrage for all Slovenes age 18 and older (Slovenes age 16 and older may vote if they are employed), freedom of religion, and freedom of the press. Slovenia's parliament consists of a 90-member State Assembly, which makes the republic's laws, and a 40-member State Council, which can only propose laws or request reconsideration of a vote in the assembly. Assembly members serve four-year terms, and council members serve five-year terms. The parliament is headed by the prime minister, Slovenia's true head of government, who is elected to a four-year term by the assembly. The country also has a president, who is elected to a five-year term by popular vote.Slovenia has a multiparty system of government. After the 1996 elections, the country's leading parties included the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia (LDS), the Slovenian People's Party, the Social Democratic Party of Slovenia, the Christian Dem...
