Extensive Corruption and Favouritism Linked to the Government, State - Owned Enterprises and Politicians of the Ruling Parties

Ponedeljek, 31. maj

In Slovenia one side has all the power, pointed out the president of the opposition Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) Janez Janša in the debate on democracy, which took place on May 19 2004 as a part of series of debates on the Convention on the Future of Slovenia. The Convention is sponsored by the President of the Republic Janez Drnovšek, who stated that a threat of favouritism in Slovenia is on increase and in a relatively small country it could represent a serious threat to the functioning of a democratic system, transparency of its functioning and fair relations. Slovenia downgraded in the world competitiveness, according to the report issued by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). The report saw Slovenia ranked in the 45th spot out of 60 countries. Main reasons for Slovenia's shortcomings are inefficient control of supervisory board over the management and insider trading at the stock exchange.

In order to reveal evidence of increasing corruption, favouritism and money laundering linked to the Government, state - owned enterprises and politicians of the ruling parties, particularly of the major Liberal Democracy of Slovenia (LDS), the opposition Coalition Slovenia (SDS and NSi), along with the Slovenian National Party (SNS), demanded the extraordinary session that took place on May 6. As pointed out by the SDS president Janez Janša, the owners of the small and medium - sized enterprises, who have no connections to the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia (LDS) or any other ruling parties, have indeed no possibilities to succeed in public procurement.. Taxpayers' money is thus being spent quite arbitrarily.

As an example, the state – owned land line telephony monopoly Telekom Slovenije presumably funded the election campaign of the ruling Liberal Democracy of Slovenia (LDS). Slovenian dominating mobile operator Mobitel is alleged to be indirectly paid more 500 millions francs by the Swedish telecommunications giant Ericsson. Moreover, some state officials carried out illegal activities by awarding state aid to the IT company Ultra, which is the employer to the LDS Council president Gregor Golobič. These are just few major cases. In order to prevent the presentation of evidence of corruption, the governing coalition limited the time available for parliamentary debate. It was impossible to list at least the names of the companies involved in illegal activities. The governing coalition evidently wanted to prevent the general public to be provided the real data of corruption in the enterprises established or owned by the state. Furthermore, the governing coalition was unwilling to pass the decision that would order the state prosecution to complete the report on the Mobile – Ericsson case and the Office for the Prevention of Money Laundering to check all transactions between the Mobile and Ericsson. Being deprived of the basic right to speak in the Parliament, the opposition obstructed the parliamentary session. The governing coalition voted about itself and took a decision that they are not involved in corruption...

The Coalition Slovenia then filed on May 14 a request to task the Court of Auditors to examine urgently the operations of the Telekom Slovenije and its subsidiaries Mobitel and Siol. As a matter of fact, three companies have not been audited so far. The nature of costs reported by Telekom in the period 1998 – 2003 should be scrutinised in first place. And in particular those created by the services the company commissioned with contractors.

At request of the MPs of the opposition Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), New Slovenia (NSi) and the National Party (SNS), the new extraordinary session on corruption, favouritism and money laundering is scheduled for Monday, May 31. The agenda will include questionable relations between politicians of the governing coalition and state - owned enterprises, publicly well - known scandals, namely a charity organisation Red Cross, sporting goods enterprise Elan, the Slovenia's leading bank Nova Ljubljanska Banka, the attack on the journalist Miro Petek, who is known for his critical writing and research journalism, in particular in the field of white - collar crime, and the construction of the new pediatric clinic in Ljubljana. The opposition will also put under debate the (in)efficiency of state institutions to prevent frauds.

There are once again strong tendencies to limit time available for discussion, regardless the protests of the opposition at the last session on corruption for unjustified time limits.

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