At Monday’s September session of the National Assembly, it was once again time for questions from the floor, which were to be answered only by the ministers of the Golob government, but not by the Prime Minister, who is on a working visit to New York on the sidelines of the United Nations meeting. The Prime Minister will therefore answer the questions next Tuesday.
At the opening of the session, which was marked by conversations about the upcoming interpellation of the Minister for Digitalisation, Emilia Stojmenova Duh, MP Janez Cigler Kralj from the New Slovenia party (Nova Slovenija – NSi) pointed out that Stojmenova Duh had not been present at the morning meeting of the Commission for Public Finance Control. He said that she had not attended the Commission’s meetings on several occasions. “The audit of the Court of Audit is relentless and full of facts that are extremely incriminating for Stojmenova Duh, and she is showing her disrespect, her indifference towards these institutions and towards the citizens with her actions. This is not about the Commission itself; it is about respect for the Court of Audit of the Republic of Slovenia and the Commission for the Control of Public Finances, and ultimately, it is also about respect for the National Assembly and for all of us, including you, Madam Speaker of the National Assembly,” MP Cigler Kralj said to Urška Klakočar Zupančič.
“Despite the fact that she had informed the members that she would not be attending the meeting, but that the Ministry would be represented by two people, the State Secretaries, neither of them was present at the meeting,” MP Cigler Kralj noted and urged that it was time to take action to protect the integrity and, above all, to ensure that the Court of Audit was respected, because the Court of Audit’s audit of the Minister was brutal. “The Commission for Public Finance Control builds its own integrity; I am not the one building it. I have no authority to build the integrity of any of the committees. You have now misused a procedural question here,” the Speaker of the National Assembly said in her response. “According to the Rules of Procedure, Minister Emilija Stojmenova Duh does not guarantee a quorum,” Borut Sajovic argued in defence of the Minister, who will be questioned on Friday. Cigler Kralj insisted that the opposition was being restricted and prevented from performing its role, pointing out that the Minister does not attend meetings so that she does not have to face uncomfortable truths, and he earned himself a reprimand. “My procedural suggestion is that you make sure that the Rules of Procedure are respected. And you can give me ten reprimands for that, but as the Speaker of the National Assembly, you are responsible for ensuring that the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly are respected, which stipulate that the government or its representative must be present at the meetings of the committees of the working bodies,” the leader of the NSi parliamentary group pointed out in his response.
As the Speaker of the National Assembly invoked the Rules of Procedure and claimed that she respects the law, the leader of the Slovenian Democratic Party (Slovenska demokratska stranka – SDS) parliamentary group, MP Jelka Godec, spoke up next and asked the Speaker of the National Assembly why the Commission of Inquiry into the business dealings of the Gen-I energy company was still headed by MP Tomaž Lah of the ruling Freedom Movement party (Gibanje svoboda). She pointed out that, according to the Law on Parliamentary Investigations, no Member of Parliament could participate in the Commission of Inquiry if he or she was a person under investigation or a witness in the matter under investigation. “As required by this law and the Rules of Procedure on Parliamentary Inquiries, one third of the MPs have submitted a request for the Parliamentary Inquiry – that is, to designate certain MPs, as well as others, as witnesses – including Lah.” In response, the Speaker of the National Assembly said that the Commission of Inquiry had been set up through the National Council. “I think you have been in Parliament long enough to know how the appointments of presidents, vice-presidents and members work. As far as I know, the meetings are secret, I am not involved in the work of the commission, I am not involved in the work of any committee, and that is it. And we will stop here. Thank you very much,” she said, adding that she would not allow any more procedural questions.
After the adjournment of the sitting, the leader of the SDS parliamentary group told the Speaker of the National Assembly that the GEN-I Commission of Inquiry had not been set up by the National Council. “It is up to the National Assembly to order it, on the proposal of the National Council, and the National Assembly must order an establishment of a commission of inquiry if it is proposed by the National Council or by 30 MPs,” MP Godec stressed, reiterating that she had asked how the implementation of the Rules of Procedure was being taken care of, given the fact that Lah continues to head the Commission. Referring to the error pointed out, Klakočar Zupančič said that there had been a lapse and reiterated that she does not and should not get involved in the work of individual committees. She suspended the sitting for two hours. After the interruption, Godec insisted on the question concerning MP Lah and reminded everyone that the Speaker of the National Assembly was interfering in the work of the committees. She cited the case of the Committee on European Union Affairs, as the Speaker had asked its chair, Franc Breznik, to convene a meeting at which the candidate for European Commissioner would be presented. The leader of the SDS parliamentary group reiterated her call for the government to answer MEPs’ questions. Namely, we currently have 31 unanswered written questions from the opposition, and no answers to the coalition’s initiatives.
MP Franc Medic from the NSi party asked the Minister of Infrastructure when the residents of Idrija would be allowed to start the practical part of the driving test again in their hometown. Minister Bratušek replied that it was up to the profession to assess where the conditions were met for the practical part of the B category test to take place. According to her, she does not doubt the opinion of the profession. MP Medic pointed out that in the past, it had been possible to conduct the examinations in Idrija and that the Ministry, together with the Slovenian Traffic Safety Agency, had committed to follow up on the situation in the places where such examinations had already been held before 2014. As Bratuek insisted, this was a professional opinion, and she promised that these professional conditions would continue to be checked.
SDS MP Anton Šturbej asked the absent Prime Minister, in his capacity as Minister of Defence, a question to which he would like an oral answer at the next session, concerning the 40 specialised vehicles with 164 containers, which are intended to help in the event of interventions. The MP asked where the problem had arisen that had prevented the distribution of these vehicles and stressed that the vehicles should be distributed as soon as possible, and that training should be organised in the field. SDS MP Jožef Jelen asked the Minister for Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, Jože Novak, about the implementation of flood protection measures, when they would take place, when the National Spatial Plan would be adopted, how it would be adopted (in phases or as a set for one river basin) and whether anything had been done about this problem yet. According to the Minister, the floods last year revealed three major shortcomings in the national system. “In a sense, we prepared in advance for similar floods in three different ways. Firstly, we are working to solve the problem of understaffing of the Directorate and, indirectly, if you like, of the concessionaires; we have increased the mechanisation and staffing of the concessionaires, and a greater response can be expected in the event of similar situations. Of course, on the other hand, there are the systemic measures to reduce flooding and erosion risks throughout the country, and then there is the well-known 300.000 million rehabilitation programme that has already been presented,” he pointed out, among other things. As he pointed out, the national spatial planning for the Savinja valley is in progress, and he then also mentioned some of the other concrete projects planned. MP Jelen then asked for a discussion to be held on this topic because, as he said, he felt that “it is not a priority of this government to speed things up”.
MP Rado Gladek of the SDS party then asked when the rehabilitation of the Maribor Airport would start. “When can we expect passenger planes or planes with passengers to land at Maribor Airport again?” In response to his question, Minister Bratušek pointed out that her colleagues, together with the DRI Investment Management, Company for Development of Infrastructure, the company that manages the airport on the state’s behalf, had addressed the challenges that had arisen at the airport following the floods. “The first intervention has already been carried out, meaning the roof has been repaired, which will ensure that there will be no more waterlogging in the next rainfalls. As far as the complete renovation is concerned, it is, of course, necessary to work in compliance with the legislation. The damage is extensive, and the building has been insured.” All legal provisions must be respected in order to reimburse the state for the insurance payment, she said. She added that not everything can happen overnight. “Now, I’m not quite sure if I understand what the insurance payment has to do with repairing the damage?” the MP responded to the Minister’s words. In her reply, Bratušek insisted that the state’s attitude towards the airport was more than serious. “As I said, 2.2 million is the reason on an annual basis that this is the case, and it is not a small amount of money. As I said, the state is looking for a strategic partner, and a tender was launched, but unfortunately, nobody applied for this tender,” she said, among other things. “The national spatial plans for all three airports are underway, and Minister Novak and I are in contact regarding this project.”
MP Danijel Krivec asked the Minister of the Interior, Boštjan Poklukar, about the wearing of symbols of the former totalitarian state, which represent the violation of human rights, due to totalitarianism and aggression against Slovenia, at state events. Recently, there was a national event called “The Return of Primorska to the Motherland,” where there were many such symbols, from Tito inscriptions to red stars to flags of the former regime. “Now, one can just wave this problem away, but I would still like to know, given that we have a Constitution, given that the Constitutional Court has already taken a position on this many times, how come the police, who are the bastion of the Constitution, who are set up to protect the law in this country, view such excesses at state events.”
Minister Poklukar began by pointing out that the Criminal Offences and Criminal Law defines the area of the prohibition on wearing symbols of former totalitarian states. “The area of the use of state symbols is regulated by the Act on the Coat of Arms, Flag and National Anthem of the Republic of Slovenia and on the Slovenian National Flag, which does not, however, regulate the area of displaying foreign flags and the use of other foreign symbols. The manner of displaying foreign flags and the sanctions are regulated by the Law on Public Order and Peace, which does not define the wearing, displaying or use of symbols and slogans of former totalitarian states, and therefore, the mere possession of such symbols does not constitute the legal elements of an offence,” he explained, adding that this is only defined as an offence when “the display or wearing of such symbols in a public place causes disturbance or agitation among individuals or groups, as defined in Article 7 of the Law on Public Order and Peace. Article 7 of the Law on Public Order and Peace, taking into account also the provisions of Article 20 of the Law on Public Order and Peace, which defines as a qualified form the offences committed with the intent to arouse national, racial, sexual, ethical, religious, political or sexual orientation intolerance.” According to the Minister, when the police establish the elements of an offence, “they are obliged to initiate offence proceedings under Article 50 of the Offences Act.”
Krivec reminded Poklukar that the state celebration was on behalf of the Republic of Slovenia, not on behalf of the previous totalitarian regime. “Now, when will you assess whether this affects the feelings of some of those who are there? There is Vrhpolje near there, you know what it was like in Vrhpolje during the War of Independence. There is Rožna dolina nearby, you know what it was like during the War of Independence. We have a lot of material about the post-war killings that took place under these symbols, and it is an offence, in my opinion, to irritate the people who are sitting there at a state celebration with such symbols,” the MP was clear. But the Minister insisted that the police always act legally, professionally and in accordance with their powers.
MP Tomaž Lisec asked the Minister of Finance, Klemen Boštjančič, a question about the announced tax changes. “You said that this is about addressing the needs of the most development-oriented part of the economy. But I wonder if you could tell the Slovenian public in your own time what are these great measures to address the needs of the most development-oriented part of the economy? And a sub-question, what are the measures that will address the most vulnerable parts of the economy? I hope you will not say that this is merely politicking from the Chamber of Commerce, which has said that these announced tax changes are unsystematic, incomplete, unthought-out proposals, and I am, of course, interested in the first phase of what and when the property tax will be implemented?” MP Lisec also wanted to know when we can expect some relief on wage taxes.
Regarding the announced taxes, both on beer excise duty hikes and on taxes on sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages, he asked if the Minister thought these proposals were going in the right direction. “Because if we are talking about raising VAT on alcoholic beverages, I hope you are aware of the examples of Denmark, Germany, France, Portugal, where these measures have not produced the expected results, as you yourself would have wished.” On the occasion of the Slovenian Sports Day, Lisec noted, we can read about how the announced tax changes will have a negative impact on Slovenian athletes who have the status of sole entrepreneurs. “Finally, I would like to know whether you have thought carefully about whether tax breaks for young professionals from abroad are the only way to get young professionals to our country?”
Minister Boštjančič began by stressing that they believe the measures are appropriate. The package that was sent to the National Assembly was prepared by the Ministry of Finance at the beginning of this year, at a time when the Economic and Social Council was not even functioning yet. “As part of these changes, also at the initiative of the business sector and under the auspices of the Prime Minister, we set up an ad hoc working group on taxes, with the participation of representatives of the business sector and the relevant ministries. As Minister of Finance, I set up my own Strategic Council on Taxes, which is an advisory body to me as the Minister of Finance. And this Strategic Council also included two representatives each of employers and employees,” he said, adding that the general view on taxes is that taxes should be reduced as much as possible, also from the point of view of the economy. But, he said, this would not save the country. “Taxes are an important part, but by no means the key part, of whether or not a particular environment is considered favourable. The other factors are: a well-maintained infrastructure, a predictable economic policy environment, access to markets, a skilled workforce.” A skilled workforce, he said, is precisely one of the key measures addressed in this package.
“For several years now, there has been a competition for these promising talent pools in various fields all over the world,” he continued, adding that the most important measure in this package is the tax incentives for people under 40 who will move to Slovenia. “It does not matter whether they are Slovenian citizens or citizens of a foreign country,” he said, adding that they decided on this age to attract them to stay here and have families. Similar measures are already in place across Europe, he said, but our tax break is the highest.
Other parts of these tax changes, according to Minister Boštjančič, are “tax incentives for rewards in start-ups, then changes to the procedures for share awards, the possibility of forming VAT groups, harmonisation of tax recognition of interest expenses on loans between related parties, extension of the green and digital transition allowance, and so on. One part of the relief is also in the area of higher taxation. These are excise duties on alcohol. By the way, the excise duty part is not yet in this package, but will follow very shortly,” he explained. On the VAT increase on sugary drinks, he explained that the measure was the result of extensive discussions with two expert bodies and consultative bodies (the Expert Council on Health and the Strategic Council for Nutrition). He added that, among other things, he dares to claim that their government would do more for sport than any other government before it.
N. Ž.
