Members of the working bodies of the 8th National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia

Ljubljana – Gregor Perič has replaced Janja Sluga as the chair of the Modern Centre Party’s (SMC) deputy group after three SMC deputies, Sluga and Speaker Igor Zorčič included, voted in favour of the ouster of Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti, signalling a rift in the deputy group.

Ljubljana – Janez Cigler Kralj remains labour minister as the opposition-sponsored motion of no confidence was defeated by 44 votes to 38 in the small hours of Friday. The National Assembly was thus eight votes short of voting him out of office.

Ljubljana – The National Assembly passed the National Demographic Fund bill at second reading last night, tweaking the bill slightly via amendments by the coalition, but voting down a number of amendments tabled by the opposition, including the one exempting the STA from the fund.

Ljubljana – The executive committee of the Pensioners’ Party (DeSUS) said on Thursday it expected DeSUS MPs to back a vote of no confidence in the Janez Janša government and DeSUS head Karl Erjavec as candidate for prime-minister designate.

Ljubljana – The parliamentary Finance Committee adopted a series of amendments to the National Demographic Fund bill on Wednesday, mostly based on remarks from the parliamentary legal service. The opposition walked out after its amendments, which would change the basic concept of the fund, were voted down.

Ljubljana – The opposition Social Democrats (SD), Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), the Left and the Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) have filed an ouster motion against Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti. Talking to the press on Friday, opposition MPs listed a number of arguments, among them ineffective Covid crisis measures in the culture sector.

Ljubljana – The parliamentary Labour Committee is discussing the eighth economic stimulus bill, worth around EUR 320 million. Labour Minister Janez Cigler Kralj said that with the bill, the government wanted to find the middle ground with social partners by taking into account their proposals as much as possible.

The centre-left government was formed by Marjan Šarec, a novice in the national political arena, and his LMŠ party with the SocDems, Modern Centre Party (SMC), the Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) and the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) after the relative election winner Janez Janša and his right-wing Democrats (SDS) failed to put together a coalition.

The conservative alliance of the Democratic Party (SDS) and People's Party (SLS), which has been leading in the opinion polls, argues that the EU as the most advanced society must initiate environmental-friendly technological solutions.

They also believe that more should be done to switch to clean energy sources and to a circular economy.

The List of Marjan Šarec (LMŠ) came in second in last year's parliamentary elections, lagging far behind the victorious Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS). Nevertheless, LMŠ has managed to form his government by being politically savvy. Two months later at the local elections, LMŠ failed to achieve better results.