New version of the Partnership for Development: Despite attacks on him, Prime Minister Janez Janša also offers the opposition the cooperation to face Slovenia’s development challenges

By: C. R.

The Cabinet of the Prime Minister Janez Janša announced that a proposal for an agreement between political parties and representatives of nationalities in the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia on cooperation in shaping responses to fundamental development challenges in the period 2021–2022 had been forwarded to all presidents of parliamentary parties, i.e., LMŠ, SD, SMC, Levica, NSI, SAB, DeSUS, SNS and members of national communities.

Political parties and representatives of nationalities in the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia would decide on the said agreement while being aware of:

• that the Republic of Slovenia is facing one of the most demanding tasks – formulating an exit strategy from the time of the epidemic, for which it has significant EU funds at its disposal;
• that we are facing an important period of presidency of the Council of the EU during the conference on the future of Europe;
• that it is essential to carry out certain systemic reforms that are necessary to maintain and strengthen competitiveness as a condition for greater prosperity of the Republic of Slovenia and are in the common interest of all citizens and all parliamentary parties in Slovenia.

By signing the agreement, political parties and representatives of nationalities in the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia would express their will and intention to co-create the stated tasks and goals together, regardless of whether individual political parties are in a coalition or opposition. The Prime Minister’s Office added that political parties and the representatives of nationalities in the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia would also adopt rules on influence and responsibility for this purpose.

It is a similar initiative as during the first government of Janša, when the then (and current) Prime Minister of the opposition party was invited to participate in overcoming development challenges within the Partnership for Development. Regardless of the fact that even then there were numerous media attacks on the government of Janša.