"Wealth is not about having a yacht, a Mercedes and a bank account on Cyprus. Wealth is about having work, pride and dignity," Boštjančič said.

He made the statement in November while asked in an interview what he would do if he was the prime minister.

The award has been given out annually since 1999 by the Maribor-based daily Večer to a person who called a spade a spade in the past year.

The award-winning ceremony was held Sunday evening at the SNG Maribor theatre house.

Last year the award went to former Constitutional Court judge Ciril Ribičič, who said: "Half-jokingly, I'd say that we would need a draw rather than an election to get good state institutions."