Slovenia president expects new government in second half of September (updated)

Telekom Slovenije, D.d

16/07/2014 15:17

* Coalition talks to start next week 
    * Parliament to convene in early August 
 
 (Adds details, background) 
    By Marja Novak 
    LJUBLJANA, July 16 (Reuters) - Slovenia's new government 
could be formed in the second half of September, President Borut 
Pahor said on Wednesday, after a new centre-left party won the 
most votes in a snap election. 
    The Party of Miro Cerar (SMC) won 36 out of 90 seats in 
parliament, more than any other party since Slovenia's 
independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. 
    Analysts say Cerar, a law professor and political novice, 
may give Slovenia the stability it needs to revive its economy 
but his reluctance to sell big state assets could pile up public 
debt, which would worry its euro zone peers.  ID:nL6N0PP1YS  
    Slovenia narrowly avoided an international bailout for its 
banks last year after the global crisis crippled its exports and 
bad loans soared. Its debt is expected to reach 81 percent of 
GDP this year, up from 71.7 percent in 2013. 
    "Following a patient dialogue between parties and their 
parliamentary groups, a new government could be formed in the 
second half of September," Pahor's office said in a statement 
after he met Cerar. 
    Sunday's snap election was called because the centre-left 
Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek resigned in May after losing the 
battle for leadership of the Positive Slovenia party.  
    The official election results are due on July 29. Parliament 
will convene in early August and the president must nominate a 
prime minister-designate within the following 30 days. 
    Cerar is due to begin coalition talks next week, his party 
said. He has said he would talk with all parliamentary parties 
except the centre-right Slovenian Democratic Party, whose leader 
Janez Jansa is serving a 2-year jail sentence for graft.  
    Cerar's party needs at least one or two small parties to 
secure a majority in parliament but Cerar had said he hoped for 
a large coalition, which would enable him to implement reforms. 
    Cerar has vowed to meet obligations set by the EU but said 
he would reconsider the planned sell-off of telecom operator 
Telekom Slovenia  TLSG.LJ  and the main airport Aerodrom 
Ljubljana  ARPO.LJ .  ID:nL6N0PO09H      
     
     
     
     
 
 
 (Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) 
 ((Marja.Novak@thomsonreuters.com)(+386-205-6369)(Reuters 
Messaging: marja.novak.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: SLOVENIA GOVERNMENT/