The President's Turn

Jankovic, the president of Positive Slovenia, labelled the talks with Tuerk as "very interesting and constructive", saying the president will decide at his own discretion. He said, however, that the winner does not necessarily have to be given the chance to form a government. The Democrats (SDS) came out of the meeting with Tuerk confident that the president would pick Jankovic.

Tuerk inquired "whether the SDS was in favour of giving Jankovic as the winner the first shot," SDS deputy group leader Joze Tanko said. The party does not oppose the president's move, but it does not plan to support Jankovic in the parliamentary vote. The Social Democrats (SD) told Tuerk they supported Jankovic as prime minister-designate.

Meanwhile, three smaller parties which formed an ad hoc coalition to elect the speaker of parliament last week oppose nominating Jankovic and want a government of national unity.

The Virant List, People's Party (SLS) and Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) want a "consensus on the principal priorities and a PM-designate who can bring together parties with at least a 60-vote majority in parliament," Gregor Virant said. The trio have given other parties a week to think about the proposal. If it is unsuccessful, the three will each decide about their support independently. "In that case the Virant List will be deciding about a centre-left or a centre-right coalition, both of which are possible at this point," Virant said.

The three have 20 MPs in the 90-seat legislature, meaning that any government, left or right, would have to include at least two if not all three. Their proposal has so far been received coolly, with Jankovic saying after the talks with Tuerk that this was nonsense. Slovenia could have had a technocratic government when the government of Borut Pahor was voted out, but it was decided to hold early elections instead, he said. The SDS's Tanko, meanwhile, said that there was currently "no need to deal with how new trios will be formed." "What is important now is that the president nominate a PM-designate, all other options will be a consequence of the success or failure of this attempt in parliament."

SOURCE: The Slovenia Times