Coalition Talks: Will New Agreement Bring Operational Development Strategy
However, the guidelines for the agreement prepared by the PS include a debate on the universal basic income and comming to the bottom of the controversial EUR 1.4bn investment into a thermal power station (TEŠ6). Both issues may be very demanding.
The document has so far only been sent to party heads, while deputy groups are yet to see it. The leaderships of the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) and the Citizens List (DL) are expected to discuss it on Tuesday.
Coalition partners agreed not to comment on the draft; however, DeSUS leader Karl Erjavec, who will not attend today's talks due to his previous engagements, has said that his party was not completely happy because of the lack of a pledge to avoid further pension cuts.
The DL has pledged that social contributions and taxes would not be increased, while the Social Democrats (SD) insist Slovenia must remain a welfare state.
Coalition partners are also expected to touch on the possibility of merging some departments, although all parties are not enthusiastic about this option.
The coalition agreement revision comes just the posts of Defence Minister Roman Jakič and Infrastructure and Spatial Planning Minister Samo Omerzel seem to be on the line.
Jakič is being investigated over corruption in his capacity of a Ljubljana city official, while Omerzel is facing an ouster motion filed last month by the opposition after it was revealed that his company was to expand business with the national motorway company DARS despite his pledge to the contrary.
Coalition partners are also expected to express their support or distrust for Omerzel, as only his DL has expressed support for the minister so far.