Until a replacement is found, Setnikar Cankar will continue to perform the ministerial duties, PM said in his press release. At the meeting he had with the Minister she offered her resignation. The reason she gave were her expectations that the revelation of data on her earnings, in addition to her regular salary, would have a negative influence on her work.

"The Minister is convinced she had done nothing illegal or unethical. I can't give my assessment yet, as I don't know all the circumstances and details. But I have accepted her estimation that it could become a political burden for the work of the government, and I have accepted her resignation," Prime Minister explained.

The Minister of Education is convinced that all the payments she had received were lawful, which should further inspection confirm. She also emphasized that the fact that her earnings in the last ten years were made public constitutes the abuse of personal data.

The Commission for the Prevention of Corruption on Thursday made public the data on contract fees by paid by the state administration and institutes, showing that the former dean of the Faculty of Administration, now Minister of Education Stanislava Setnikar Cankar since April 2004 made 636,000 euros in freelance contracts in addition to her regular salary.

G. C.
Translated by G. K.