NEWS

Prime Minister Pahor: The coalition is ready for the challenges ahead of Slovenia

At today’s meeting of the party presidents and parliamentary group leaders of the coalition, convened by Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor, participants supported the conclusions of the coalition summit to ensure better performance of the coalition. To this end, the political group leaders will sign a protocol on cooperation between parliamentary groups of the coalition.

 

(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 

Today the coalition partners reaffirmed, among other things, their commitment to put a definite stop to the bad practice of political recruitment exercised in Slovenia so far, and to introduce a new model which would lay foundations for the future functioning of the Government. Prime Minister Pahor stated that in this context the Government will adopt all instruments required for full operation of the Staff Accreditation Council at its session next week. “By doing so, we will create very high barriers to the temptation to recruit in a political manner,” said the Prime Minister.

 

The coalition was informed about the activities involved in preparing the package of savings measures. “The pay cut for officials from the political, as well as the economic elite – in so far as this matter concerns the management of companies where the state has the controlling interest – is meant to make a symbolic statement, while the savings measures have a clear objective – tangible savings,” stressed the Prime Minister.

 

Representatives of the coalition also discussed the proposed amendment to the law on victims of war violence, which has been submitted to the political group leaders. “We would like to find out in the coming days whether there is a fundamental willingness to hold a meeting of all presidents of parliamentary parties and to determine if this would provide a solid enough basis for further coordination,” said the Prime Minister. He also expressed his expectation that a consensus on this issue would be found. According to the Prime Minister, this would mark a turning point.

 

(Photo: Bor Slana/Bobo)

 

Prime Minister Pahor said that the coalition has decided to support Croatia’s NATO membership at the session of the National Assembly. Since a two-thirds majority is required for such a decision, the Prime Minister expressed his hope that the opposition parties would follow suit.

 

Discussion was also held on regionalism in Slovenia. “If we do not resolve this issue successfully in the first half of the year, we will not be able to carry this project through during this term of office,” said the Prime Minister. He added that the Minister responsible for local self-government and regional policy enjoys the support of all coalition parties to lay the appropriate groundwork for a discussion of this issue with representatives of parliamentary groups and the presidents of parliamentary parties.

 

“We have decided to propose a kind of cooperation with the opposition parties regarding the issue of state interventions in times of financial and economic uncertainty,” said the Prime Minister; he continued by pointing out that the presidents of the opposition parties will draft a document on such cooperation and submit it to the coalition parties within a few days.