The Slovenia Times

Draft coalition agreement entails healthcare reform, new ministries

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The LMŠ underlined that the draft document was in its early stages and was being supplemented by proposals from the potential coalition partners.

The document acquired by the STA serves as the basis for talks between the LMŠ, the Social Democrats (SD), the Modern Centre Party (SMC), New Slovenia (NSi), the Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) and the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS).

Most of the parties deem health care a priority. The draft coalition agreement entails the preservation of the public health care system and a comprehensive reform.

But even before that, the coalition would tackle one of the most burning issues - long waiting periods for patients.

The effort would mobilise all available resources, from public institutions to private providers and concession holders, as well as the possibility to send patients for treatment abroad.

The programme would be funded by the national health insurance ZZZS. The potential coalition however says that it would not allow money to be used non-transparently on the account of the health purse.

To reduce corruption risks, the coalition would introduce legislative changes to draw a clear line between public and private healthcare services.

The emerging coalition aims to preserve the existing rights covered by the national health insurance but would increase the premiums in order to cover in full all of the services which now have to be partly covered by patients.

In the face of an ageing population, the coalition intends to set up a system of long-term care and a special long-term care insurance under the wing of ZZZS.

Moreover, the parties also plan to gradually increase the full old-age pension base to 63%. Currently, the base for women who have worked for 40 years is set at 63.5% and for men at 57.25%.

The coalition would also encourage pensioners to continue working after they reach retirement age and would like to see the creation of housing communities for the elderly.

The draft agreement also entails a tax reform that would reduce labour taxes, impose a tax on property and change tax laws for small and medium sized companies.

They want to preserve economic growth by lowering the taxes for employees who are most productive and vital for development. The potential coalition would introduce legislative changes to allow a more flexible labour market, while also providing security for employees.

The coalition would overhaul the national capital asset management strategy and privatise non-strategic companies. Moreover, the parties would introduce a set of measures aimed at protecting Slovenia's vital interests.

As regards public finances, the draft entails a gradual decrease of public debt from the current 73.6% GDP to 60% of GDP. Moreover, Slovenia would get a financial police force.

Gradually, the country would also increase the funding for R&D to 1% of GDP by 2022, and establish a national technological agency that would function as a key platform for tech development.

The draft entails a revision of the single pay system in the public sector based on the characteristics of individual professions and define the remuneration system in detail.

The document also specifies as an objective an electoral system change that would abolish electoral districts and introduce a preferential vote.

Moreover, the prime minister would be able to appoint and dismiss her or his ministers without the National Assembly. The upper chamber would be abolished and the president would get the veto power now held by the chamber.

One of the key projects in the draft is entitled De-Bureaucracy, aiming to simplify administrative procedures for citizens and abolish some of them.

As regards foreign affairs, the draft underlines the importance of a strong and effective EU and expresses the wish for a monetary union upgrade. The coalition would also encourage EU enlargement in south-eastern Europe.

Defence funds would gradually be increased to 1.5% of GDP and Slovenia would launch talks on decreasing the number of battalion-sized battle groups from two to one. As is, Slovenia only has one battalion-sized battle group.

The coalition would aim to boost the development of the police force in terms of staff and technology; moreover, a significant share of funds for the force would be used to fortify the border police.

The Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants, established in 2017, would be abolished and its powers would be transferred onto the Interior Ministry.

Under the draft agreement, judges' terms would be limited to 12 years with the possibility of renewed appointment.

Slovenia would get an inter-departmental body addressing the issues of youth and a national programme aiming to boost natality and encourage young people to become independent. Moreover, people buying or renovating their first homes would get a tax break on housing loans.

The coalition would also adopt new media legislation and the so-called law on the culture euro.

Moreover, the draft entails three new ministries: for digitalisation, science and technology, for energy and renewables, and for regional development and cohesion.

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