Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia

Ljubljana – A deputy of the coalition Pensioners’ Party (DeSUS) has said four of the five DeSUS MPs were willing to quit the deputy group and become independent “if things do not calm down”. They plan to support the current government until the end of its term.

Ljubljana – The Pensioners’ Party (DeSUS) remains in the government coalition but will examine the possibility of closer cooperation with the coalition Modern Centre Party’s (SMC) deputy group, DeSUS deputy group leader Franc Jurša said after Thursday’s meeting between MPs and new party leader Karl Erjavec.

Ljubljana – Karl Erjavec, 60, is returning to politics having won the coalition Pensioners’ Party (DeSUS) leadership contest as the party declared the results of its electoral congress on Saturday. He is starting his fifth term as DeSUS leader after defeating the only rival, Srečko Felix Krope, in a 146:71 vote.

Brdo pri Kranju – Coalition officials reviewed the implementation of the coalition agreement and discussed further steps as they met at Brdu pri Kranju on Thursday. Details were sketchy but statements after the meeting suggest there are no major differences between the partners in the ruling coalition.

This follows from a 13-page draft coalition agreement obtained by the STA. The draft was initialled on Monday by Janša's Democrats (SDS), New Slovenia (NSi), Modern Centre Party (SMC) and Pensioners Party (DeSUS), but unofficial information indicates the parties have already signed the agreement.

Statements by party leaders suggest several major bills could be.

"We are approaching the final year of the government's term and it is important to talk about how we will steer the coalition commitments to the end," Prime Minister Miro Cerar said as he arrived for the meeting.

Kolar Celarc was forced to accept the 12 December deadline by the junior coalition partners in exchange for them supporting her in a no-confidence motion in November.

The coalition partners' assessment of the legislation will probably also determine Kolar Celarc's fate in government.