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Slovenia, Varuh človekovih pravic

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Slovene Ombudsman Presents His Annual Report for 1999 to Prime Minister Bajuk

On 15 June Prime Minister Andrej Bajuk recived Slovene Ombudsman Ivan Bizjak, who presented him with the annual report for 1999. Bizjak pointed out deficiencies in legislation, a high number of unsolved cases at the court of law, an often inappropriate and slow relationship of state organs towards the citizens, and a necessary reform of state administration. Prime Minister pointed out that the government will take the report seriously and discuss it as soon as possible.

Bajuk demanded that his Ministers should prepare a report on reasons for delays and deficiencies mentioned by Ombudsman, together with proposals on how to correct them. The government will inform Ombudsman as well as the Parliament with its findings. The Parliament is also under obligation to discuss the report rendered by Ombudsman.

Bizjak's Candidacy for Ombudsman Rejected in Parliament

At extraordinary parliament session on July 12, 2000 MPs rejected President Milan Kucan's proposal to re-elect Ivan Bizjak as Slovenia's Ombudsman. Taking an open vote, 53 out of 62 present MPs voted for Bizjak's re-election. Three voted against and six abstained.

At least two thirds of all MPs' votes (60) are required for the election of an ombudsman. The Slovene National Assembly holds a total of 90 seats. The three MPs who voted against Bizjak's candidacy are members of the government coalition Social Democratic Party (SDS). The six MPs who abstained come from the opposition National Party (2) and the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia (3), and one from the government coalition SDS. While some additional MPs were actually present at the session they did not register for voting.

Speaking to the press after the vote, Bizjak said the main reason for non-election was the fact that a low number of MPs were present at the session. "It is hard to secure two-thirds majority if you only have two thirds of MPs present," he said. However, he found it hard to explain the low number of present MPs. Bizjak confirmed the information that he has not spoken to the SDS parliamentary faction prior to the vote. "I suggested a meeting with all factions even before I decided to run for the office again. And I had meetings with most of them, including the representatives of the ethnic minorities. However, there was no meeting with the SDS," Bizjak explained.

President Kucan has expressed regret with the decision, even more so because a series of consultations with the heads of parliamentary factions showed Bizjak had their support. The support was also expressed during parliamentary debates of annual reports compiled by the Ombudsman about human rights violations in Slovenia, Kucan's office reported after the election.

Slovene Press Examines Wednesday's Parliament Voting on Ombudsman

Ljubljana, 13 July (STA) - Two Slovene dailies commented Wednesday's failure to appoint Ombudsman Ivan Bizjak for another term in office. Bizjak, Slovenia's first ever ombudsman who is proposed by the President Milan Kucan, received 53 votes of the 62 lawmakers present, and with that fell 7 short of the two-thirds majority needed for his re-election.

Delo: Social Democrats Against Ombudsman

The forecast of voting results in Slovenia's parliament is a thankless task. The expected may not occur even when it seems that results could be forecasted without much risk. The voting of lawmakers is quite unpredictable. The result of voting on the ombudsman is from this point of view no great surprise. However, it is surprising that the ruling coalition partners (SLS+SKD Slovene People's Party and Social Democrats) could not decide on uniform support for the candidate. It is understandable that a part of the opposition Liberal Democracy was not prepared to assure support for the Ombudsman, but it is completely unusual that Bizjak was not supported by any of the Social Democrat lawmakers present. Three voted against, even though no one publicly criticised his work. Ombudsman Ivan Bizjak, whose six-year term expires at the end of September, has performed the task well. This is admitted by both lawmakers of the ruling coalition and the opposition. He established an institute which Slovenia wrote in its constitution with great expectation. Even those who think that certain fields should be given more attention, in the end establish that the Ombudsman can not do away with all infringements of human rights.

Dnevnik: Ombudsman to Face Election Marathon?

It looks like Ombudsman Ivan Bizjak's summer holidays have been ruined. They were ruined by lawmakers of Slovenia's lawmakers since they did not give him the votes need for his re-appointment. Why should Mister Ombudsman be happy and relax before the expiration of his six-year term, when the lawmakers will have to sweat it out during most of summer, which will be a red hot pre-election summer?! All the way from the beginning all seemed so good for his candidacy that it could be labelled quite unbelievable if he was elected without a fuss, given the Slovene political conditions and the proverbial Slovene envy. The President of Slovenia will now have to repeat the selection process for the candidate for Ombudsman and propose a new or once again propose Bizjak as the candidate. The current Ombudsman's term ends on 29 September. The most black scenario would see this young and integral state institution remain without a head at that time. We believe that this will not happen, if not because of anything else, because Europe would make a fool out of our parliamentary democracy and political immaturity. 

Statistics

1. Received complaints

From 1 January to 30 September 2000 the ombudsman received a total of 2,550 complaints. Table 1 shows the number of complaints received in this period by individual area.

As in previous years, the largest share of all complaints received in the first nine months of this year referred to the following areas:

• court and police procedures: 809;
• administrative affairs: 463;
• other matters: 429

Table 1

2. Decrease of complaints

Table 2 shows a remarkable decrease of received complaints after Mr Bizjak has not been re-elected in the parliament.

Table 2: Number of complaints opened in August and September 1999/2000 Avgust 1999  

Slovenia, Varuh človekovih pravic

Work

Slovene Ombudsman Presents His Annual Report for 1999 to Prime Minister Bajuk

On 15 June Prime Minister Andrej Bajuk recived Slovene Ombudsman Ivan Bizjak, who presented him with the annual report for 1999. Bizjak pointed out deficiencies in legislation, a high number of unsolved cases at the court of law, an often inappropriate and slow relationship of state organs towards the citizens, and a necessary reform of state administration. Prime Minister pointed out that the government will take the report seriously and discuss it as soon as possible.

Bajuk demanded that his Ministers should prepare a report on reasons for delays and deficiencies mentioned by Ombudsman, together with proposals on how to correct them. The government will inform Ombudsman as well as the Parliament with its findings. The Parliament is also under obligation to discuss the report rendered by Ombudsman.

Bizjak's Candidacy for Ombudsman Rejected in Parliament

At extraordinary parliament session on July 12, 2000 MPs rejected President Milan Kucan's proposal to re-elect Ivan Bizjak as Slovenia's Ombudsman. Taking an open vote, 53 out of 62 present MPs voted for Bizjak's re-election. Three voted against and six abstained.

At least two thirds of all MPs' votes (60) are required for the election of an ombudsman. The Slovene National Assembly holds a total of 90 seats. The three MPs who voted against Bizjak's candidacy are members of the government coalition Social Democratic Party (SDS). The six MPs who abstained come from the opposition National Party (2) and the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia (3), and one from the government coalition SDS. While some additional MPs were actually present at the session they did not register for voting.

Speaking to the press after the vote, Bizjak said the main reason for non-election was the fact that a low number of MPs were present at the session. "It is hard to secure two-thirds majority if you only have two thirds of MPs present," he said. However, he found it hard to explain the low number of present MPs. Bizjak confirmed the information that he has not spoken to the SDS parliamentary faction prior to the vote. "I suggested a meeting with all factions even before I decided to run for the office again. And I had meetings with most of them, including the representatives of the ethnic minorities. However, there was no meeting with the SDS," Bizjak explained.

President Kucan has expressed regret with the decision, even more so because a series of consultations with the heads of parliamentary factions showed Bizjak had their support. The support was also expressed during parliamentary debates of annual reports compiled by the Ombudsman about human rights violations in Slovenia, Kucan's office reported after the election.

Slovene Press Examines Wednesday's Parliament Voting on Ombudsman

Ljubljana, 13 July (STA) - Two Slovene dailies commented Wednesday's failure to appoint Ombudsman Ivan Bizjak for another term in office. Bizjak, Slovenia's first ever ombudsman who is proposed by the President Milan Kucan, received 53 votes of the 62 lawmakers present, and with that fell 7 short of the two-thirds majority needed for his re-election.

Delo: Social Democrats Against Ombudsman

The forecast of voting results in Slovenia's parliament is a thankless task. The expected may not occur even when it seems that results could be forecasted without much risk. The voting of lawmakers is quite unpredictable. The result of voting on the ombudsman is from this point of view no great surprise. However, it is surprising that the ruling coalition partners (SLS+SKD Slovene People's Party and Social Democrats) could not decide on uniform support for the candidate. It is understandable that a part of the opposition Liberal Democracy was not prepared to assure support for the Ombudsman, but it is completely unusual that Bizjak was not supported by any of the Social Democrat lawmakers present. Three voted against, even though no one publicly criticised his work. Ombudsman Ivan Bizjak, whose six-year term expires at the end of September, has performed the task well. This is admitted by both lawmakers of the ruling coalition and the opposition. He established an institute which Slovenia wrote in its constitution with great expectation. Even those who think that certain fields should be given more attention, in the end establish that the Ombudsman can not do away with all infringements of human rights.

Dnevnik: Ombudsman to Face Election Marathon?

It looks like Ombudsman Ivan Bizjak's summer holidays have been ruined. They were ruined by lawmakers of Slovenia's lawmakers since they did not give him the votes need for his re-appointment. Why should Mister Ombudsman be happy and relax before the expiration of his six-year term, when the lawmakers will have to sweat it out during most of summer, which will be a red hot pre-election summer?! All the way from the beginning all seemed so good for his candidacy that it could be labelled quite unbelievable if he was elected without a fuss, given the Slovene political conditions and the proverbial Slovene envy. The President of Slovenia will now have to repeat the selection process for the candidate for Ombudsman and propose a new or once again propose Bizjak as the candidate. The current Ombudsman's term ends on 29 September. The most black scenario would see this young and integral state institution remain without a head at that time. We believe that this will not happen, if not because of anything else, because Europe would make a fool out of our parliamentary democracy and political immaturity. 

Statistics

1. Received complaints

From 1 January to 30 September 2000 the ombudsman received a total of 2,550 complaints. Table 1 shows the number of complaints received in this period by individual area.

As in previous years, the largest share of all complaints received in the first nine months of this year referred to the following areas:

• court and police procedures: 809;
• administrative affairs: 463;
• other matters: 429

Table 1

2. Decrease of complaints

Table 2 shows a remarkable decrease of received complaints after Mr Bizjak has not been re-elected in the parliament.

Table 2: Number of complaints opened in August and September 1999/2000 Avgust 1999