NEWS

Prime Minister Janez Janša: Slovenia faces one of the most important decisions in its history

 "This will be one of the most important decisions in this country's history," Prime Minister Janez Janša declared following the third meeting between the Government and the coalition party deputies in relation to the budget documents on which the National Assembly will decide this week. He also emphasised that tonight the Government coalition summit fully harmonised its positions on the Act regulating fiscal balance and the revised budget, and that the coalition is "in full agreement" on the documents.

 

It has been a month since the Government submitted the proposal for a revised budget to the National Assembly for discussion, through which it aims to reduce the budget deficit to 3% of GDP as soon as this year. In the meantime, it has also negotiated with the trade unions on the austerity measures included in the Act regulating fiscal balance.

 

In his statement to the press following the meeting between the Government and the coalition deputies, the Prime Minister stressed that there is still some, albeit slim, possibility of agreement with the trade unions on some measures. "During the long negotiations there was a certain rapprochement; however, many differences remain. Nevertheless, the coalition is prepared to negotiate and discuss issues until the last minute before a decision needs to be made," the Prime Minister added. 

 

He also explained that the general time limit for the submission of amendments expires tomorrow along with the conclusion of the session of the working body responsible; however, there is an additional time limit for amendments to those articles of the Act regulating fiscal balance that will not be final, which is the case for most of them. The Prime Minister also emphasised that today the coalition parties unanimously agreed that the time limits are as they are and that there is still some room for manoeuvre within them. However, according to the Prime Minister, there is no more time left to postpone the sessions of the working bodies or the plenary session of the National Assembly, which are to decide on these documents.