Luka Mesec

Ljubljana – The Freedom Movement, the party that won the 24 April general election, and its prospective coalition partners, the Social Democrats (SD) and the Left, would like to form a government by 3 June and will set out the distribution of ministerial briefs between them by the end of the week after the first round of official talks on Tuesday.

Ljubljana – The council of the Left on Friday endorsed the party’s executive committee, headed by coordinator Luka Mesec, after the committee put their mandate for a vote of confidence. The party leadership has been given the mandate for talks with the Freedom Movement to enter a coalition headed by Robert Golob.

Ljubljana/Koper – Robert Golob, the head of the Freedom Movement party that has convincingly won Sunday’s general election, is expected to meet President Borut Pahor informally on Tuesday as the most likely candidate for the prime minister-designate. Talks with the Social Democrats (SD) and Left on forming a new coalition are also expected tomorrow.

Ljubljana – Parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič told the STA as he cast a ballot in Velike Malence near Brežice today that citizens always made the right decision in election. Prime Minister and Democrats (SDS) head Janez Janša, who voted in Šentilj near Velenje, expressed a similar view. Several other party heads were optimistic as well.

Ljubljana – The new Freedom Movement party and the four opposition parties associated in the informal KUL coalition are convinced they will win the general election on Sunday and form a stable government. Their leaders said that the five parties operated as a well-coordinated team as they addressed the press on Friday before the election blackout sets in.

Ljubljana – The final debate of the election campaign hosted by the public broadcaster TV Slovenija last night ended in disarray after the host lost control of debate and opposition leaders walked out of the studio one by one after having their say.

Ljubljana – The Left has withdrawn its motion for a consultative referendum on changes to the income tax act, as the government had indicated the referendum could be held on the same day as the general election. Left coordinator Luka Mesec said the party did not want to enable the government to build its election campaign on “promises of higher wages.”

Ljubljana – The four centre-left opposition parties associated in an informal Constitutional Arch Coalition (KUL) presented some key points of their election programmes at an event on Wednesday, advocating public education and healthcare, accessible housing and stable public finances, while also calling on people to go vote.

Ljubljana – The centre-left opposition is unanimous in saying the government measures to mitigate energy-price hikes are welcome but come several months too late and leave out several groups of population, as it has commented on a set of measures worth around EUR 200 million adopted on Saturday for households and companies.

Ljubljana – The parliamentary Education Committee endorsed late on Friday amendments to the organisation and financing of education act, which would change the composition of school and kindergarten councils to increase the influence of the founder, as members of the opposition obstructed.