Erjavec: Veber's statements could be detrimental for coalition

"Outrageous holding on to the office"

DeSUS party president Karl Erjavec believes that the statements of the Minister of Defence Janko Veber do not reflect the situation within the coaltion. Foto: BoBo

It is an attack on the institution of prime minister, who has the right to dismiss a minister, the president of DeSUS party Erjavec commented Minister Veber's »machinations« against PM Cerar. It came as a surprise to opposition.

The president of the government Miro Cerar has proposed the dismissal of the Minister of Defence Janko Veber for his instructions to the Intelligence and Security Service of the Ministry of Defence regarding the analysis of the consequences of Telekom privatisation. The Minister of Defence Janko Veber has warned Cerar of the possibility of undermining defence measures in compliance with the 366th article of the Penal Code, which stipulates that destruction of defence devices, defensive installation, positions, weapons or other defence means, rendering these unserviceable, or in any other manner hindering or abandoning state defence measures is punishable by imprisonment for the period from one to ten years.

DeSUS Party President Karl Erjavec believes that such statements can shake up coalition, and does not connect them with the conditions within the coalition. "Such statements regarding a criminal complaint is straining the situation, and it is obvious that Veber intends to go all the way and won't resign, but will be dismissed," Erjavec said, and added that Veber's statements could influence the position of the SD party within the government. "The president of the government probably expects the loyalty of his coalition partners," Erjavec continues.

Cerar: SD won't support Veber's views
PM Miro Cerar does not connect Veber's last statement with the situation within coalition. During these days he is having normal communications with the SD party president Dejan Židan, and with Erjavec, and he intends to continue separating the issues as far as possible. "If SD party decided to support such views, it would of course result in a problem. But I don't think so," Cerar explained.

In his opinion Veber went a bit too far in his endeavours to explain his views, and obviously his explanations have become counterproductive. Cerar also said that he had not abandoned any actions which might cause weakening of the defensive capabilities of the state. "It's a completely absurd allegation," he claims, and said that his encouragement of Minister Veber to prepare documentation regarding the impact of privatisation of Telekom on the defensive capabilities of the state is documented.

G. C., A. S.; translated by G. K.