Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa said on Monday that establishing 14 provinces in the tiny country was politically realistic to simplify local government and embark on devolution.
Jansa told the press that the establishment of provinces had been agreed upon in the ruling coalition although the junior coalition party New Slovenia (NSi) called recently for six provinces, the Slovenian news agency reported from the capital Ljubljana.
Responding to Jansa's comments, an NSi official said that 14 provinces were the most the party was willing to support.
"If the number rises to 15 or more, the NSi will withdraw its support," said Jozef Horvat, head of the party's deputy group, adding that his party would like the government to come up with alternatives.
Slovenia is comprised of 12 statistical regions, including more than 200 self-government municipalities all over the country. The government aims to establish provinces as an instrument of decentralization, bringing better utilization of regional development potentials and insuring a fairer distribution of funds.
In early April, the leaders of Slovenian parliamentary parties expressed support for the planned transfer onto provinces of those powers currently held by ministries and administrative units which will be conductive to development. The transfer of powers will be accompanied by the transfer of appropriate funds and jobs, without involving additional costs for the funding of provinces.
Earlier in July, the Slovenian parliament endorsed a package of three bills on provinces in the first reading, while the second reading is expected in September. The number of provinces will be determined in a fourth law, which is however still in public debate.
Slovenian Local Government and Regional Policy Minister Ivan Zagar has said that the optimum number of provinces is between nine and 14 while the governmental draft legislation package envisaging 14 provinces are undergoing a 60-day discussion in municipality councils across Slovenia.
Source: Xinhua
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