Slovenian PM tells defence minister to quit in Telekom row (updated)

Telekom Slovenije, D.d

30/03/2015 11:18

(Adds analyst quote, background) 
    By Marja Novak 
    LJUBLJANA, March 30 (Reuters) - Slovenian Prime Minister 
Miro Cerar has told the defence minister to quit in a row over 
the sale of state-owned telecoms operator Telekom Slovenia 
 TLSG.LJ , a resignation that might delay the privatisation. 
    Cerar said on Monday after a meeting of his coalition that 
he would ask parliament to dismiss Janko Veber unless he 
resigned by Tuesday for ordering the army's secret service to 
analyse the possible security implications of the privatisation. 
    Veber, who is a member of the smallest coalition party, the 
centre-left Social Democrats, told reporters he would not go.  
    Cerar's centre-left coalition, which took over in September 
after a snap election, holds 52 seats in a 90-seat parliament 
and would keep a minimum majority even if the six Social 
Democrats with seats quit the coalition. 
    "I expect the Social Democrats will remain in the coalition 
but Cerar is in a comfortable position because he has majority 
even without them," Radio Slovenia political analyst Tanja 
Staric told Reuters. 
    She said, however, that the development will certainly delay 
the sale of Telekom Slovenia which had been expected to be 
completed within weeks. 
    "There is even a chance that Telekom will not be sold at all 
but it will definitely not be sold before the political 
stability is re-established," Staric said. 
    Telekom is the largest of 15 firms that were earmarked for 
privatisation in 2013. So far three of those have been sold. 
    Several sources have told Reuters that international 
investment funds Cinven, Providence, Apax and Bain Capital are 
among the bidders for Telekom, along with German telecoms 
operator Deutsche Telekom  DTEGn.DE .  ID:nL5N0VN3BH  
 
 (Editing by Louise Ireland) 
 ((Marja.Novak@thomsonreuters.com; +386-1-5058805; Reuters 
Messaging: marja.novak.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: SLOVENIA MINISTER/