Štefanec will take over from Goran Klemenčič, who resigned in protest together with his deputies in November due to a lack of breakthrough in the fight on corruption in Slovenia.

The lawyer from Murska Sobota, who was little-known in public prior to his appointment, faces an uphill task in running the country's main integrity body, after doubts arose about his impartiality.

Indeed, the revelation that he had been a member of the coalition Positive Slovenia (PS) party all until his naming by President Borut Pahor on 6 March has sparked a public outcry.

Despite calls for his resignation - a recent Delo opinion poll found nearly two-thirds of people want him to resign - Štefanec has maintained that he intends to demonstrate that he is the right man for the job with his work.

In addition to public doubts, he faces having to lead the commission alone, as Jurij Ferme and Darko Stare, who were appointed as deputies, tendered their resignations following revelations of his links to PS.

He will also have to contend with political pressure which comes with being in charge of keeping check of office holders. His predecessor cited constant politicking regarding the work of the commission as one of the reasons for his resignation.