The Commission for Mandates and Elections rejected on Wednesday a reelection of two Human Rights Ombudsman's deputies. The opposition Liberal Democracy (LDS) and Social Democrats (SD) have already labelled the step a political settling of accounts with Ombudsman Matjaz Hanzek.
Even though this is not required by law, Hanzek collected proposals for potential new candidates for the post of his deputy before proposing Ales Butalo and Jernej Rovsek for another six year term.

His suggestion was nevertheless rejected by the majority of the commission's members, with Jakob Presecnik of the ruling coalition Slovenian People's Partly (SLS) arguing it would be inappropriate to appoint the deputies just prior to the ombudsman's term in office expiring and Barbara Zgajner Tavs of the opposition National Party (SNS) expressing doubt over the way in which potential candidates are being sought.

Jozef Skolc of LDS said that such arguments were "far-fetched" and that such settling of accounts with Hanzek was dangerous as his office requires continuity in order to function properly.

While noting that the deputies in question were appointed even before Hanzek took office, LDS member Cveta Zalokar Orazem added that a rejection of his candidates could cause a lot of problems "which, however, might be intentional as the ombudsman is a thorn in the side of many in the ruling coalition as well as in the so called opposition".