By: Moja Dolenjska
Shortly after midnight, the debate in the National Assembly on the no-confidence motion against Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar’s work and political responsibility concluded. The motion to dismiss the minister was supported by 29 MPs from SDS, NSi, and two independents.
MP Andrej Kosi (SDS) was critical in the National Assembly about the purchase of the helicopter. He stated that Germany bought a helicopter for 8 million euros, while the Slovenian Ministry, led by Boštjan Poklukar, paid 15 million euros for it.
Minister Boštjan Poklukar, who was only saved from dismissal by the party voting machine and already knew about the manoeuvring and the final result, laughed it off, with significant help from SD and Levica as well. He is aware that in this government, he is more protected than the “Kočevje bear”.
Against the dismissal, 35 MPs voted, all from the Freedom Movement party (out of the total 40 they have), which also includes Poklukar.
MPs from the other two coalition parties (SD and Levica) abstained from voting, with some being absent. If 9 MPs from SD and Levica had voted for Poklukar’s dismissal, the total would have been 44 votes. Still not enough, as the no-confidence motion needed 46 votes to pass. The two minority MPs were absent. A total of 73 MPs (out of 90) were registered as present.
The result was expected. Boštjan Poklukar, however, does not have much reason to rejoice.
