Ljubljana, 12 July (STA) - Ombudsman Matjaz Hanzek insisted at Tuesday's news conference that the government should have no say in deciding on salaries of the ombudsman's office since it might jeopardise the office's independence.

Displeased with the new plan of the Ministry of Public Administration for changing wage brackets for public office holders, Hanzek insisted the ministry does not take into account the status of the ombudsman's office as envisaged by the Constitution.
According to Hanzek, the ombudsman's office is placed into a special category of state institutions, and does not make part of the executive, judicial or legislative branche of government.

In order to insure the office's independence, its financial situation should be settled, Hanzek pointed out. He noted that the act on the office envisages that the salary of the ombudsman is decided upon by parliament.

Hanzek insisted the ombudsman is entitled to the same salary as received by the president of the Constitutional Court. He also insisted that the ombudsman's salary could not be ranked in a bracket lower that the institutions the ombudsman supervises.

Hanzek also said that that ministry's proposal is notably unacceptable when it comes to the salaries of ombudsman's assistants. Until now, these officials had the same status as the officials at the Constitutional Court.

The proposal, presented by Public Administration Minister Gregor Virant on 22 June, envisages the highest salaries for president, prime minister, speaker of parliament, and presidents of the constitutional and supreme courts.

The proposal moreover stipulates that salaries of mayors and district judges would increase, while those of cabinet ministers and the ombudsman would be lowered.