Commission for the Prevention of Corruption

Ljubljana – The commercial broadcaster POP TV released a recording on Monday evening of Andrej Vizjak, the then economy minister, urging businessman Bojan Petan to avoid paying taxes in relation to spa Terme Čatež during the first Janez Janša government. Vizjak also offered Petan the support of the state and the supervisory board if he agreed to his terms.

Ljubljana – A delegation of the European Parliament’s committee on civil liberties, justice and home affairs (LIBE) visiting Slovenia on a fact-finding mission has expressed concern mainly at the tone of public debate, while also calling for the issues of STA funding and European delegated prosecutor appointments to be addressed urgently.

Ljubljana – The opposition-controlled Commission for Oversight of Public Finances has asked the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption to check the records of Prime Minister Janez Janša’s contacts with lobbyists after a media reported that he had played golf on several occasions with the owner of a medical devices supplier.

Ljubljana – Tomaž Vesel, the president of the Court of Audit, is seeking support among independent oversight bodies for a statement that urges against alleged political pressure and attacks on them that are carried out in the media and on social networks. Some government ministers have reacted to the statement, largely not sharing the view.

Ljubljana – The Court of Audit has found in a report on the efficiency of procurement of protective and medical equipment for containing the spread of the new coronavirus that, although the circumstances were extraordinary, the government, ministries and the Commodity Reserves Agency had been inefficient in the PPE procurement.

Ljubljana – The parliamentary Commission for Oversight of Public Finances debated Friday the selection of Slovakia’s Skytoll for an e-tolling system for cars. While the opposition alleged irregularities, motorway company DARS and the Infrastructure Ministry rejected any impropriety. The MPs asked the anti-graft commission to look into the tender.

Ljubljana – The parliamentary Home Affairs Committee discussed on Monday integrity at the Court of Audit and the conduct by its president Tomaž Vesel in the wake of alleged conflict of interest caused by his work at FIFA. The session was boycotted by four opposition parties and ended with two proposals, one of them being for Vesel to resign.

Ljubljana – Slovenia has made no headway in the 2020 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) compiled annually by Transparency International (TI). Like in 2019, Slovenia ranked 39th among 180 countries included in the index. With a score of 60 points, it once again fell short of the EU average of 64 points and the OECD average of 67 points.

Ljubljana – The Commission for the Prevention of Corruption has determined a breach of integrity and provisions banning the accepting of gifts in a case concerning Aleksandra Pivec, the former minister of agriculture. Pivec disagrees with such an interpretation of the decision.

Ljubljana – The Court of Audit has found the purchases of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the spring wave of coronavirus were inefficient, according to a leaked draft report obtained by the newspaper Delo. The report does not name anyone in particular as especially problematic.