SLOVENIA: INCOMING PM PROMISES CONTINUITY, BUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LJUBLJANA 000461 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2018 TAGS: PREL MOPS NATO PGOV PINR MARR SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: INCOMING PM PROMISES CONTINUITY, BUT IRAQ COMMITMENT IN DOUBT LJUBLJANA 00000461 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Yousif B. Ghafari, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ///////////ZFR/////////ZFR/////////ZFR/////// /// PLEASE CANCEL CABLE. THIS IS A DUPLICATE OF LJUBLJANA 359. THANKS. /////////ZFR//////////ZFR//////////ZFR/////// LJUBLJANA 00000461 002 OF 002 ¶6. (C) COMMENT. On the positive side, we have the beginnings of a "special relationship" with Pahor. He is extraordinarily open to us and seems to share our views on a personal level. However, Pahor is criticized by even his allies for lacking the temperament to impose his political will on others. He ran for Prime Minister under the motto "the policy of compromise." In short, he may be too nice -- a flaw no one has ever accused the current Prime Minister of sharing. Pahor is therefore likely to have his work cut out for him when it comes to managing his own coalition, to say nothing of the opposition. Janes Markes, a journalist and one of Jansa's erstwhile allies, noted "a widening gap" between the Social Democrats and coalition-partner Zares. He also told us that the mild-mannered Pahor "is in for a rude awakening if he thinks Jansa will behave in opposition as Pahor did." Further complicating matters, Pahor is closer to the political center than his two main coalition partners, not to mention some within his own party. Taken together, these factors indicate that Pahor will have to show uncharacteristically strong leadership if he is going to deliver on his assurance of continuity in foreign policy. The Ambassador closed by saying that we had several issues that we would like to discuss with the new government in greater detail as soon as it takes office. END COMMENT. GHAFARI