Štefanec, 59, has been a lawyer in Murska Sobota for 22 years. He previously served short stints as judge and prosecutor.

Ferme used to head the criminal police and is now adviser to the police commissioner.

Stare heads the oversight and investigations department at the anti-corruption commission, a job he took up in late 2010 after leaving the post of deputy director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (SOVA).

The trio were appointed following a public call for applications and a subsequent screening by a selection commission appointed from among the ranks of government, parliament, the judiciary and anti-graft NGOs.

The new leadership will take office on 31 March. Until then the current leadership under Goran Klemenčič, who collectively resigned in late November citing powerlessness in the face of mounting corruption, will stay on.

The outgoing leadership welcomed the appointment, adding that a handover of duties would take place as soon as possible to ensure a smooth transition and prevent delays in the handling of cases currently being processed.

Reactions by parties have been muted, with the exception of Democrat (SDS) leader Janez Janša, whose government collapsed due to a commission report finding that he failed to account for a significant portion of his assets.

He suggested on the social network Twitter that the new leadership was biased. "UDBA continuity ensured. Stare (ex-SOVA) driving force of controversial commission conduct in many decisions," he said in reference to the Yugoslav-era secret police UDBA.

Gregor Virant, the head of the coalition Citizens' List (DL), told the STA he knew both deputies, who are "an excellent choice", but could not comment on the president, whom he does not know.

Social Democrat (SD) president Igor Lukšič wished the new leadership "a successful fight against corruption, while Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) deputy group leader Franc Jurša said he had worked with the new anti-graft tzar several years ago and believes he is "a positive personality".

Experts dealing with corruption were also reserved, but pointed out the change of leadership was also an opportunity for a change of course at the anti-graft watchdog.

Bojan Dobovšek, professor at the Maribor Faculty of Security Studies, said the commission was becoming increasingly repressive and needed to become a preventative body as envisaged by international conventions.

"The leadership must instil trust among the people. It needs to establish principles determining when an action is transparent and when it is corrupt," he said.

Vid Doria, secretary general of Transparency International Slovenia, said he could not comment on the appointees. He wished them good luck working in what he described as a "very important" institution fighting corruption.