Tomaž Gantar

Agriculture Minister Podgoršek resigns over hotel bill payment

Ljubljana – Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek resigned on Wednesday after he became the target of media scrutiny over lack of clarity regarding the payment of his weekend stay at an upscale hotel in Bohinj in January. He said he was “resigning exclusively due to the late payment of the bill”, and was accepting responsibility for this.

DeSUS electing new leadership on Saturday

Ljubljana – The Pensioners’ Party (DeSUS) will hold a congress on Saturday to elect what will be its third leadership in a year and a half. Last December, after less than a year under Aleksandra Pivec, the party again elected its ex-boss Karl Erjavec, but he stepped down in March. There are three contenders now.

Justice minister resigns as govt annuls delegated prosecutor procedure

Ljubljana – Justice Minister Lilijana Kozlovič has handed her resignation, the Justice Ministry confirmed for the STA. The reason is the government’s decision to annul the procedure to appoint Slovenia’s two European delegated prosecutors and to publish a new call for applications, which Kozlovič sees no justified grounds for.

Former Health Minister Gantar leaves DeSUS

Ljubljana – Former Health Minister Tomaž Gantar has left the Pensioners’ Party (DeSUS). Gantar, who also served as a party vice-president, announced the decision at a session of the DeSUS executive committee on Thursday. He told the STA he had been waiting for a proposal to consolidate the party, but given the developments he realised he had enough.

Janez Poklukar appointed new health minister

Ljubljana – Janez Poklukar, a 42-year-old doctor-turned health manager who has been leading Slovenia’s largest medical centre through the biggest ever health crisis, was appointed new health minister by the National Assembly on Tuesday.

Backed by 50 votes to 31, Poklukar is the country’s 18th health minister since 1990, including two who have been appointed twice.

Report: Matej Tonin to temporarily take over at Health Ministry

Ljubljana – Defence Minister Matej Tonin is to temporarily take over the role of health minister from Prime Minister Janez Janša on Monday, the news portal 24ur.com reported on Wednesday, quoting unofficial information. Tonin reportedly already informed his closest team in the New Slovenia (NSi) party of this.

Opposition files motion to oust labour minister

Ljubljana – Four opposition parties have filed a motion to oust Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Minister Janez Cigler Kralj over his work during the epidemic and the ministry’s decision to grant funds to an NGO with close links to the minister. They need 46 votes in the 90-member National Assembly to succeed.

Public agency looking into suitability of rapid antigen tests

Ljubljana – The Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices has decided to carry out an extraordinary inspection of the suitability of the rapid antigen tests the Health Ministry purchased in December from the company Majbert Pharm. The decision comes after suspicion has been raised in the public about the reliability of these tests.

Opposition to table motion of no-confidence in govt in mid-January

Ljubljana – An informal coalition of centre-left opposition parties will table a motion of no-confidence in the Janez Janša government on 15 January, Karl Erjavec, the leader of the Pensioners’ Party (DeSUS), who has been tipped for prime minister-designate, announced on Tuesday.

Health Minister Gantar resigns after his party leaves the coalition

Ljubljana – Health Minister Tomaž Gantar resigned on Friday after his Pensioners’ Party (DeSUS) decided to leave the coalition. The National Assembly took note of his resignation in the afternoon and Prime Minister Janez Janša is stepping in as interim health minister.

Pages