Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04LJUBLJANA1089
2004-12-06 06:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ljubljana
Cable title:  

SLOVENIA: NEW GOS CABINET CONFIRMED BY PARLIAMENT

Tags:  PGOV PINR SI OSCE 
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UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 001089 

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR SI OSCE
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: NEW GOS CABINET CONFIRMED BY PARLIAMENT

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 001089

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR SI OSCE
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: NEW GOS CABINET CONFIRMED BY PARLIAMENT


1. (U) SUMMARY: In a 51:37 public vote on 03 December, the
National Assembly confirmed the proposed cabinet of PM Janez
Jansa. MPs from Jansa's four-party coalition plus the two
national minority representatives supported the slate of 15
candidates. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Exactly two months after elections the Slovenian
National Assembly confirmed the new GoS cabinet. With just
one "up-or-down" vote for the entire package, the Parliament
voted in Jansa's slate of 15 ministers-designate. All 49
members of the governing coalition parties (SDS, NSi, SLS,
DeSUS) and the two MPs who represent the Hungarian and
Italian national minorities voted for the cabinet. Thirty-
seven opposition party MPs (from LDS, ZLSD, and SNS) voted
against, with two abstentions.


3. (U) While Jansa's original proposal included 16
candidates, Minister-Designate without Portfolio for Local
Self-Government and Regional Development Ms. Darinka
Mravljak (SLS) resigned after difficulties in committee
hearings. She explained she was withdrawing for "personal
reasons." By law Jansa has three months to fill the slot;
however, SLS has said it will propose a replacement for
Mravljak by 13 December, with a vote expected to follow by
the end of December


4. (U) The new ministers and their main priorties, as
presented during their parliamentary comittee hearings, are
as follows:

-- Dr. Andre Bajuk (NSi),Minister of Finance. His
prioritis are: registering state and municipal property and
state obligations and claims; reforming the currnt state
accounting system; analyzing effectivenss of state property
management.

-- Dr. Dimitij Rupel (SDS),Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Hispriorities are: Slovenia's 2005 Chairmanship-in-Office
of the OSCE; Slovenia's 2008 presidency of the EU; enhancing
relations with Croatia (including avoidance of future
conflicts); strengthening relations with U.S.

-- Dr. Gregor Virant (not affiliated but close to Jansa's
SDS party) Minister for Public Administration, a newly
established ministry under Jansa's government. His main
priorities are: breaking down administrative barriers for
Slovenian citizens; combating the arrogance of public
servants; transparency in public administration.

-- Mr. Dragutin Mate, Minister of Interior (no party

affiliation, but close to Jansa since Slovenia became
independent). His priorities are: improving prosecution of
white-collar crimes; improving training opportunities for
the police; improving internal relations at the ministry and
relations between the police and local communities.

-- Mr. Karl Erjavec (DeSUS),Minister of Defense. His
priorities are: ensuring top physical condition of
soldiers; assuring enough financial resources for purchasing
equipment and weapons between 2008-2012 through basic
development funds; adoption of the status law on the
military; selling disposable real estate worth SIT 6 billion
(approx. USD 335,000); decreasing the number of
administrative employees in the ministry.

-- Dr. Lovro Sturm (NSi),Minister of Justice. His
priorities are: improving the operation of the judicial
system to decrease court backlogs; adoption of the Law on
Religious Freedom and Religious Communities.

-- Dr. Vasko Simoniti (SDS),the Minister of Culture. His
main priorities are: increasing the share of state money
for culture; protection of the Slovene language; increasing
visibility of Slovenian culture abroad.

-- Mr. Andrej Vizjak (SDS),Minister of Economy. His main
priorities are: assuring fair competition before selling
state monopolies; greatly increasing budget share for
tourism; privatizing Slovenian ironworks.

-- Mr. Andrej Brucan (SDS),Minister of Health. His
priorities are: settling the `agony' surrounding the
purchase of radiation devices for Oncological Institute;
adoption of the Law on Equalization Schemes to prevent
social inequities; larger involvement of private but
monitored capital in health; and increasing taxes on alcohol

and cigarettes.

-- Dr. Milan Zver (SDS),Minister of Education and Sport.
His priorities are: increasing the percentage of children
who attend kindergarten; more private kindergartens;
improving personnel and infrastructure in schools;
decreasing stress of pupils while maintaining high
standards; improving the quality of knowledge; more autonomy
for teachers; cheaper textbooks.

-- Ms. Marija Lukacic (not affiliated, but close to SDS),
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food. Her priorities
are: educating farmers; further developing a comprehensive
land policy.

-- Mr. Janez Drobnic (NSi),Minister of Labor, Family and
Social Affairs. His priorities are: adoption of the Law on
Collective Bargaining; decreasing regional differences in
unemployment; increasing employment levels, especially among
disabled and older workers.

-- Dr. Jure Zupan (NSi),Minister of Higher Education,
Science and Technology. His priorities are: rejuvenating
and improving university personnel; settling the problems
with continuing education; increasing resources for
research.

-- Mr. Janez Podobnik (SLS),Minister of Environment and
Spatial Planning. His priorities are: constructing one or
two incinerators for waste; supporting `green' energy;
increasing availability of apartments for younger and
married people.

-- Mr. Janez Bozic (SLS),Minister of Transport. His
priorities are: using traffic policy to improve Slovenia's
highway network; construction of a second railway track
between Divaca and Koper.


5. (SBU) COMMENT: The vote on the cabinet went exactly as
expected. What remains to be seen is how enduring the
governing coalition will be, with SLS having a history of
switching sides at opportune moments and with DeSUS party
leader Anton Rous reportedly taking cues from former
President Milan Kucan for the time being. Nonetheless,
Jansa has managed perhaps the most efficient change of
government after an election since Slovenia became
independent. This purposeful efficiency was demonstrated by
the immediate swearing in of Rupel, who assumed office right
away in order to travel to the OSCE ministerial on 04
December in Sofia. The remaining cabinet members will
assume office during the week of 06 December. END COMMENT.

ROBERTSON


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