Parliament Hearings of Ministerial Nominees Continue

A total of six hearings are scheduled for today, including the quizzing of the economy minister nominee Jožef Petrovič, finance minister nominee Dušan Mramor and justice minister nominee Goran Klemenčič.

Also to take questions from the MPs will be Janko Veber, who has been nominated defence minister, Stanka Setnikar Cankar (minister of education, science and sport) and Violeta Bulc (minister without portfolio for development, strategic projects and cohesion).

All candidates bar Veber, who is a member of the Social Democrats (SD), have been put forward by the election-winning Party of Miro Cerar (SMC).

After his hearing at the relevant committee, finance minister nominee Dušan Mramor is expected to be interviewed by the opposition-controlled Public Finance Oversight Committee as an interested body.

Four ministerial nominees who serve as ministers in the outgoing government were already confirmed by relevant committees for another term on Friday.

Karl Erjavec was okayed for foreign minister, Anja Kopač Mrak for labour, family, social affairs and equal opportunities minister, Gorazd Žmavc for minister without portfolio for Slovenians abroad, and Dejan Židan for agriculture and environment minister.

The remaining six ministerial candidates will be interviewed by parliamentary committees on Tuesday.

After a day off, the National Assembly will vote on the entire list of 16 ministerial candidates put forward by Cerar as well as on Cerar himself as the PM-elect on Thursday.

At the session, the MPs will also appoint the chair and co-chair of the parliamentary Constitutional Commission and members of the Intelligence and Security Services Oversight Commission.

The latter failed to be established at a session on 28 August as the opposition Democrats (SDS) put forward their imprisoned leader Janez Janša as their candidate, which was opposed by a majority of MPs.

Source: The Slovenia Times

Photo source: Independent Balkan News Agency, European Voice