A STABLE GOVERNMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

Ljubljana, 24 October 2000


I have made my decision. I signed a document convening the first session of the newly elected National Assembly on Friday, 27 October of this year. I based this decision on my belief that Slovenia needs economic, political and social stability and thus also a stable government that will be capable of carrying out the tasks necessary for securing this stability: first and foremost to catch up on the delays in Slovenia's negotiations for accession to European and Euroatlantic structures, to adopt the national budget, to complete the urgent reforms, particularly that of the state administration, to ensure the conditions for courts to function efficiently and to complete the process of denationalisation.

The Chairman of the State Electoral Commission handed me the Commission’s report. The conditions for convening the National Assembly are thus fulfilled. I expect that cooperation between political parties in the shaping of the National Assembly, particularly in the formation of parliamentary groupings, will be constructive, so as to provide the possibility for carrying out the procedure, that is consultations with the heads of parliamentary groupings, in a manner that would soon yield a new government whose composition would reflect the will of the electoral body and which would have sufficient support in the National Assembly for the urgent tasks lying ahead.

These tasks include not only those I mentioned earlier, that is accession to Euroatlantic structures and urgent reforms, but also the legacy left behind by the current Government, some of whose decisions made under the pressure of its short term in office were, in my opinion, not assessed carefully enough, and some of which, again in my opinion, were not of benefit to the country.

Since the tasks awaiting Slovenia are clear and transparent, since political parties argued in their favour during the election campaign and in their electoral programmes, I am counting on the Government having sufficient control in the parliamentary opposition. I am convinced that the Government will be wise enough to include in its formal and informal structures and consultations all creative Slovenians who are numerous and who want to see Slovenia finally focus its strengths on the future and not so much on the past as has been the case to date.



Question
Today you also met with the Chairman of the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia for the second time. How satisfied are you with the ongoing negotiations on the forming of a government. Also, what is your opinion on the possibility of the Liberal Democracy to govern on its own, with support from smaller parties that are not to be part of the government coalition? This possibility was not excluded by the Chairman of LDS, in fact he said that it was even a very serious one?

MILAN KUCAN
These past few days I held discussions not only with the Chairman of the Liberal Democracy, but with the chairmen of almost all parties now in parliament. I was interested in their position as to my duty to convene the first session of the newly elected National Assembly, meaning their position as to my opinion that it is in Slovenia's interest for the National Assembly to convene as soon as possible, this being a prerequisite for a quick forming of a government.

The Chairman of the Liberal Democracy and I mainly focused our discussion on this issue. He shares my opinion that the National Assembly should be convened as soon as possible. This was also the opinion of the majority of my other collocutors. I also discussed this issue with Prime Minister Dr Bajuk today, who is also of the same opinion.

As for the coalition negotiations, my official consultations will start after the holidays, once the National Assembly will have been inaugurated. First I will hold official talks with the chairmen of the parties, and then also formal talks with the heads or chairmen of parliamentary groupings.

Question
President Kucan, when can we expect you to nominate a Prime Minister Designate?

MILAN KUCAN
If the parties will be swift in the formation of parliamentary groupings then, as far as I am concerned, my rounds of consultations would end by 15 November with the communication of my candidate for Prime Minister to the National Assembly. The subsequent procedure and its pace will then no longer depend on myself very much.

Question
Mr President, you mentioned that you had talks with most party chairmen. Who did you or who didn't you see?

MILAN KUCAN
I did not meet with the ruling coalition since it is represented by its Prime Minister whom I held talks with today.

Question
Mr President, you mentioned that the Government adopted certain not sufficiently thought-out decisions. Could you be more specific?

MILAN KUCAN
First and foremost this is the national budget and the fact that we are in delay as regards the budget, which is a crucial document; the fact that the budget is burdened with prejudged decisions that will bear weight on us all; my well-known position as to addressing the Venice Commission; positions relating to Avnoj; certain staff decisions, which are continuing to this very day, etc. That is my opinion. Time will tell, whether my opinion is justified or not.