By: L.K.F
The National Assembly debated the interpellation of the Minister of Justice Marjan Dikaučič. It was filed by the opposition LMŠ, SD, Levica, SAB and unaffiliated MPs. The debate lasted more than 13 hours, the interpellation failed. 42 MPs voted in favour of his departure, 28 against. In order for the interpellation to succeed, 46 MPs would have to support it, so Dikaučič remains in the ministerial position.
In the National Assembly, the Minister of Justice Marjan Dikaučič responded to the accusations from the interpellation and emphasised that this is not a criticism of his work, but “I am interpellated only because I am the Minister of this government”. As he said, he completely rejects the interpellation, as he follows the constitution, the law and his own conscience in his work. He emphasised that he defends the rule of law, and he considers it particularly important that the rule of law works in these times of crisis. “I am aware that today I will receive accusations and harassment, probably also base ones. I will listen to all this, as it is my duty. However, I can already say at this point that I know that I am doing the right thing and that the government and my outstanding colleagues in the Ministry support me in this,” he stressed.
Dikaučič took over the work of the Minister of Justice on June 15th this year, and the fact that he did not have 100 days of peace shows that he can understand, as we are operating in conditions that are far from easy or normal. However, he says that it is harder for him to understand that, on the one hand, he is accused in the interpellation of acting against the rule of law, and on the other hand, he is accused of following the law letter by letter and to leave the assessment of illegality to the judiciary. “I wonder what the proponents of the interpellation are actually accusing me of? So that I do not follow the rule of law or that I follow it too strictly?”
The proponents of the interpellation accuse Minister Dikaučič of many things. From his constitutionally guaranteed freedom to work or choosing a profession, political inexperience, disregard for legal acts, the constitution and government decisions, efforts to appoint European delegated prosecutors as soon as possible, to non-interference in departments that are not in his domain. SMC MP Dušan Verbič said in the introduction: “In the SMC, we can understand the tendency of the proponents, the result of which is today’s written interpellation. The non-appointment of European delegated prosecutors, to which the first point of the interpellation refers, is a saga that, according to the SMC, has been dragging on for too long. However, it is an indisputable fact that since his appointment, Minister Dikaučič has done everything in his power to ensure that Slovenia will have European delegated prosecutors in the European Public Prosecutor’s Office as soon as possible. He did so by announcing the tender.”
Dikaučič explained the latter: “Regarding the European delegated prosecutors, the proponents accuse me of publishing a call for candidacies in July this year. I stand by the fact that I have complied with the applicable legal acts, as well as the decision of the court, and that I have acted and still act with the aim of fully participating in the European Public Prosecutor’s Office as soon as possible. Because this will make the prosecution of crimes against EU funds more effective than it can be now. It is about progress.”
Opposition MPs have long debated the work of Justice Minister Dekaučič. They expressed many insults against the Minister, and such a way of communication was also used in the interpellation of Minister Simona Kustec, said their critics in the coalition. “Can we not have a respectful attitude, a well-founded debate, even in the temple of democracy?” some were appalled. Among the Minister’s critics was also Vojko Starović: “In SAB, we support this interpellation. We estimate that deep notches have occurred in the legal system of Slovenia, which encroach on and destroy the coherence of this legal system. Moves that are wrong and not in line with the existing system, not even with the constitution. This is shown by the decisions of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Slovenia. This can in no way be justified by the excuse that swift action is needed to resolve the covid-19 crisis.
Jure Ferjan also defended Dekaučič: “While in KUL you continue to slander and attack this government a few months before the regular elections, the latter proposes (systemic) laws, works in the field and solves real people’s problems. This will continue to be the case in the future, as your alternative is without content, or it is practically non-existent.”
Meanwhile, the leader of the Levica MPs, Matej T. Vatovec, announced that due to two cases of new coronavirus infections, the parliamentary group would propose postponing the vote on the interpellation of Justice Minister Marjan Dikaučič to Thursday. This is made possible by the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, and until then they will try to find a solution on how to enable voting for all MPs. MP Tina Heferle (LMŠ) also pointed out the postponement of the interpellation and indirectly blamed the government that it should declare an epidemic due to the serious health situation, so that sessions of the National Assembly could take place at a distance and two prominent Levica MPs would have the opportunity to vote against Dekaučič. If the interpellation passes, she is convinced, it will be only because of politics, because the coalition MPs must support him due to the commitment to the coalition agreement.
Just before the vote, MP Maša Kociper had a rather bizarre procedural proposal, saying that because there are more and more people infected with covid-19 in the parliamentary ranks, the normal work of the National Assembly is endangered, so she appeals to the position to declare an epidemic.
In the parliamentary groups of the coalition SDS, SMC and NSi, they believe that the interpellation is not so much about accusations against Dikaučič’s work, but that he must defend himself only because he is the Minister of this government. They accuse the opposition of destructiveness and overthrowing the government in all possible ways.