Cerar Will Become Official PM-Designate Today

Cerar appears to have the necessary majority secured, as the emerging ruling coalition of three parties - Cerar's SMC party, the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) and the Social Democrats (SD) - has a combined 52 votes.

An absolute majority of 46 votes in the 90-seat assembly is required in the secret ballot.

Additionally, the Alliance of Alenka Bratušek (ZaAB) and the two minority MPs are expected to back Cerar, who was nominated by President Borut Pahor on Tuesday, adding another six votes.

The election of the PM-designate is due to be preceded in the coming days by the finalisation of the coalition contract.

Based on the contract, Cerar is to put forward his cabinet to the National Assembly, which needs to be confirmed in another vote due within 15 days.

Barring unexpected complications, the government could be formed in early September.

Information from the would-be coalition partners has indicated that a new cabinet, which would become Slovenia's third in 30 months, is expected to have 15 ministers.

The posts are thought to have been distributed already, although apart from a few key portfolios, the names remain under wraps. Cerar could present his team as early as this week.

Economics professor Dušan Mramor has already confirmed that he has consented to take the post of finance minister, a post he held already in 2002-2004, for the SMC.

Meanwhile, security expert Bojan Dobovšek, a member of the SMC, is thought to be a candidate for interior minister.

The post of foreign minister is thought to be reserved for the incumbent Karl Erjavec of DeSUS, while the party is also looking to retain the Ministry for Slovenians Abroad, which is currently headed by Gorazd Žmavc.

Erjavec has indicated that his party is also eyeing the culture, infrastructure, environment and public administration departments.

Meanwhile, SD has indicated it wanted to keep the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs, which is currently headed by Anja Kopač Mrak, and the Agriculture Ministry, where SD leader Dejan Žedan is minister.

In addition to Cerar, parliament will also vote on the deputy speakers, chairs of parliamentary bodies, and the secretary general of parliament at today's session.

Source: The Slovenia Times

Photo source: Times.si, asiaoneworld