NEWS

Prime Minister's press conference held after the Government’s 129th regular session

At today’s 129th regular session the Government discussed the National Reform Programme 2011-2012 (NRP) and the proposal for the act on performing of services of general interest. The Government plans to adopt both documents, completed with editorial notes, at its next session.   Prime Minister Pahor also responded to questions of the press on current issues.

   

As stressed by Mr Pahor at the press conference, the Government would continue with its reforms regardless of the outcome of the referendum on the mini job. As for the pension reform, it would not be made an issue tied to a vote of confidence in the Government.  There is no doubt, said Prime Minister Pahor, that the opponents of the mini job act managed to convince the majority of those who are already unhappy with the Government's work. In his opinion nobody can say for certain that people are against reforms just because they are put forward by the Government. “What if this is not really the case, what if the opponents of the reforms which affect them manage to use the general malaise within the society to win votes in order to retain the status quo,” said Mr Pahor and added that “we are currently confronted with a paradox: people are dissatisfied with the situation yet they oppose solutions that would deal with this situation.” The Government will insist on the pension reform as adopted, because there is no chance the trade unions would agree to a compromise that would still be a reform rather than a simple cosmetic improvement.  Prime Minister Pahor also said that referendum requests were legitimate, but that those rejecting the reforms would have to take responsibility for the consequences.

   

When asked about the meeting with the minister for local self-government, Duša Trobec Bučan, the Prime Minister said he met with her earlier today. They reviewed necessary actions that will enable the minister to continue her work, and Pahor announced his intention to visit the Government Office for local self-government on Wednesday. “We agreed that I would visit the Office on Wednesday to discuss how best organise the relatively small staff responsible for accessing EU funds in order to be more successful. In particular with regard to what might currently be underestimated – the preparation of the new financial perspective. This will require a tremendous amount of work. This will be the topic of my debate with the minister,” said Pahor. He also denied some press comments about having talked to the minister last Friday over the phone, where he allegedly “reproached” her for the statements she had made to the public.  “If there was anything wrong we wouldn’t be meeting today,” said the Prime Minister. “What matters is that the report to be discussed also by the National Assembly will include a note on a significant increase in Slovenia's accessing European cohesion funds under her leadership. To me this is a crucial issue,” said Prime Minister Pahor. As far as the alleged irregularities at her Office are concerned, the Prime Minister said the minister should, if she believes any mistakes were made in the past, “efficiently eliminate them.  I expect of her to (do everything right) take appropriate actions. I have full confidence in the minister,” said Prime Minister Pahor.