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Prime Minister Borut Pahor attends the 36th May Day meeting on Sveti Jošt above Kranj

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, today attended the 36th traditional May Day meeting on Sveti Jošt above Kranj, where he also addressed the participants assembled for this occasion. In his address, he highlighted the Government's achievements during the current crisis and said that the structural changes would enable Slovenia to emerge from this crisis economically more competitive, featuring above-average results.

   

(Photo: Matej Leskovšek/STA)

     

Prime Minister Pahor went on to say that "the current Slovenian Government took up the reins in the country during the time of crisis and undertook the necessary measures that its price was not paid by those who had not caused it, i.e. the workers, but by those responsible for its occurrence. Through the adopted measures, the Government provided for Slovenia's steady economic recovery in the current year and also increased social transfers by 24 percent in the same period. The surveyed unemployment rate thus remained below 7 percent and today there are less than 100,000 people without a job in Slovenia. In elaborating on this issue, Mr Pahor said that certain mistakes could have been avoided. "We could have been more consistent in warning people about the coming crisis and its risks for the socially weak. I nevertheless consider that the task of the Government and the Social Democrats is to lead Slovenia out of this crisis so that the workers will not carry the heaviest burdens but that the latter will be distributed in proportion to our social capacity. And in 2009 and 2010, we have managed to attain this very goal," said the Slovenian Prime Minister. Within the European Union, Slovenia is among those Member States, which are recovering fastest. With a 6.2 % increase in industrial production in the February-March period our country recorded the highest growth rate in this sector. "As regards management of unemployment, Slovenia ranks fifth among the EU Member States," emphasised Mr Pahor.

    

(Photo: Matej Leskovšek/STA)

    

Touching on several critical observations by Trade Union members who are not satisfied with the social dialogue, Prime Minister Pahor expressed his understanding for this critical attitude, but he nevertheless noted that no government has since 1990 been negotiating with employers, the Trade Unions, students and pensioners for such a long time as the current Government. It was our patience that helped us reach compromises to take us forward. The crucial question is whether we want to live in a society, which, on the one hand, will demonstrate openness and respect for the law and solidarity, and, on the other hand, the capacity to compete. It is competitiveness, which ensures success on the market, jobs and pension and health fund contributions. "This year we will have to decide whether we want to be a mediocre country or a country exceeding the average," concluded Prime Minister Pahor.