The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr Janez Janša, today responded to statements made by the president of the Social Democrats, Borut Pahor, who said that his party would vote against regional legislation in Parliament and that a referendum on this issue should be called. In the Prime Minister's view, the opposition's proposal for a consultative referendum, which is non-binding, would be both misleading and a waste of money. Mr Janša took this opportunity to point out that the opposition had never been clear as to which of the proposed 14 regions should be given up.
(Photo: Nebojša Tejić/Salamon 2000)
In the Prime Minister's view, the opposition has two motives for such a decision. Some find centralisation convenient, since it enables monopolies. The second motive is of a political nature. “They don't wish this problem to be solved in this term of office, although the Government will never claim the credit for this project because it cannot carry it through on its own. This is a joint responsibility, and this is why we have agreed to decisions being adopted by a two-thirds majority,” declared the Prime Minister, adding that the coalition had voluntarily agreed that this key legislation was adopted by such majority. “We have counted on wisdom, but obviously it has got lost somewhere.”
In the Prime Minister's words, the Government has taken into consideration more than one hundred proposals and comments put forward by the opposition side. “The fact is that we are adopting laws which we can improve at a later stage,” said Mr Janša. He emphasized that without regions, it would not be possible to ensure more uniform or faster development for all. Furthermore, he said that those who were saying they were against the establishment of regions because there was something in the law that needed to be improved just pretended ignorance. He also remarked on the fact that it would be possible to improve regional legislation later, as was the case with legislation on municipalities. “If there is something that needs improvement, it can be done at a later stage, when regions come to life. However, if we don't establish regions, we will continue to deprive more than half of Slovenia’s citizens of their right to a fair start in life,” explained the Prime Minister.
