Janša Cancels Coalition Talks After Šarec Builds Support

By , 16 Jul 2018, 11:00 AM Politics
Janša in 2011 Janša in 2011 Wikimedia: European People's Party

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STA, 15 July 2018 - Janez Janša, the leader of the election-winning Democrats (SDS), has suspended the invitation to a meeting at which he would test the willingness of parliamentary parties to enter government coalition talks with him. 

Meetings with individual parties were expected to be held on Monday and Tuesday, whereas Janša was expected to let President Borut Pahor know until Thursday whether he would accept the nomination for prime minister-designate.

However, Janša decided on the suspension after the six parties negotiating on a coalition with LMŠ leader Marjan Šarec largely harmonised their positions last evening.

"Given the publicly released messages that the group of six parties harmonised the majority of the coalition agreement on Saturday, and that they will continue talks on the remaining open issues next week, I suspend until further notice the invitation to the FOR Slovenia [ZA Slovenijo] coalition talks," says his notice, posted by the Demokracija magazine on Sunday.

Several parties have confirmed receiving Janša's notice for the STA.

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However, only New Slovenia (NSi), which is also in coalition talks with Šarec, and the National Party (SNS) were expected to attend the meeting with Janša, the invitation to which was sent out last week after the SDS leader met Pahor.

All the other parties are unwilling to talk with Janša on a possible coalition. Several parties pledged even before the 3 June election they would not enter a coalition with Janša due to his far-right rhetoric.

Janša has indicated on several occasions that he would not accept the nomination if any other party managed to secure a majority in parliament.

Nevertheless, following yesterday's talks, Šarec said he was happy with the progress made, but indicated he did not yet have a coalition.

"I won't would accept the nomination if I don't have MP signatures for the prime-ministerial candidacy, if I don't have a signed coalition agreement and if I don't have staffing issues agreed."

He also said he was in no great hurry, saying he would decide how to proceed if Janša failed to form a coalition.

He noted he had time until 23 June, when the period in which the president is the only one who can put forward a prime-minister-designate runs out.

Šarec stressed he did not intend to join this first attempt of nomination himself, "at least not at all cost, as we can absolutely not get fully harmonised by 23 June".

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