DELO

Delo (Jul. 14) notes that when party leaders, governments or coalitions call a meeting of all-important members, they only have one goal, i.e. to straighten their authority. PM Anton Rop did just that when he called on the upper echelons of the coalition parties, briefed them on the government and coalition agenda until the end of the term, and suggested they should either take it or leave it. His programme indeed envisages some politically drastic moves. Leaving aside its economic dimension, the programme anticipates a number of commitments that coalition party leaders will soon need to show their support for. The real test of the coalition and Rop's power will be in autumn, when the budgets for 2004 and 2005 are to be adopted, and a number of key laws and constitutional changes discussed in parliament. Only then will it become clear whether the coalition heads truly support unpopular economizing measures or merely want to impress a public that tends to put great trust into anyone espousing frugality.

DNEVNIK

Dnevnik (Jul. 14) agrees that the coalition's bonds will have to prove their strength this autumn, as the PM will inform each minister about the extent of cost-saving measures, causing the parties a lot of trouble in searching for voter support. Therefore, a great deal of tension, harsh words, threats and groaning can be expected, even among the senior Liberal Democrats (LDS). Although the PM has stressed confidently that he has the party's backing, some party members have labelled his programme a mess, which will not secure an election victory. With opinion poll ratings low, one wonders whether the LDS has actually managed to consolidate successfully after the departure of its former leader, incumbent President Janez Drnovšek.

MLADINA

Mladina (Jul. 14) wonders about the idea of a convention that would discuss Slovenia's future, as recently put forward by Janez Janša, the leader of opposition Social Democrats (SDS). The weekly says that by proposing President Janez Drnovšek to head the convention, Janša presented a great gift to the president. Drnovšek has eventually found his mission. Janša got a present too; by adopting his idea, Drnovšek indirectly corroborated the opposition's claims that the government has no vision. This is nothing new, given that all Drnovšek governments lacked vision. Yet by adopting the initiative, Drnovšek has cleansed himself. The president has thus actually become the leading actor of the "something-must-be-done initiative", the magazine says, referring to a citizens' initiative that echoes the opposition's demands for what they believe would grant them more equal chances in politics.

DELO

Delo (Jul. 19) meanwhile suggests that the Slovenian People's Party (SLS) is in real trouble. It has been clear for a while that its leader Franci But is having problems leading the agriculture ministry and, to an even greater extent, the SLS. He did not take over some well-behaved party, but one that is facing its greatest crisis since it merged with the Christian Democrats a few years ago. He took over a party full of different interests and ambitions, practically an uncontrollable conglomerate. And he took it over with practically no political experience. The party is up for another tough year next year when elections to the Slovenian and European parliaments are to take place. In the European Parliament, the SLS will have to sit on the same benches with its "domestic enemies" NSi and SDS. The first problems have already emerged as SLS cannot reach agreement with NSi and SDS on whether to appear on the same list of candidates in the European election. There have been increasing indications that this will not happen, which SLS's friends from the European People's Party will surely not like. What is more, NSi and SDS leaders will know how to make sure that the SLS is blamed for it. It seems that next year SLS will be dancing a devil's dance all year long.

DNEVNIK

The former Slovenian President Milan Kučan has never stopped being involved in politics, he told Dnevnik (Jul. 19). Moreover, if he is happy with a party's platform, he will back that party before next year's general elections and the elections to the European Parliament. Asked to say loud and clear whether he is behind any party or a group that will run in the upcoming elections, Kučan said he would take sides when the time comes. However, Kučan has never been interested in continuing his own political career in Europe or on the international scene. Offices in the EU, Kučan believes, belong primarily to young and pragmatic people from the Slovenian political scene. As for the recent media speculations about him being a candidate for the UN administrator in Kosovo, Kučan said he had not been contacted by those in charge of appointment, and did not know how his name appeared among the candidates.

RTV SLOVENIJA

Two parties would he happy to welcome former President Kučan in their ranks, according to a TV panel (Jul. 15). Asked about Kučan's potential comeback on the political scene, Miran Potrč of the United List of Social Democrats (ZLSD) and Anton Rous of the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) said Kučan would be welcome in their parties to run for the 2004 general elections.

VEČER

Meanwhile, Barbara Brezigar has not yet decided whether to join next year's election race. "The cannibalistic style of political treatment that is typical of the Slovenian political arena is strange to me. If we don't change that, the best people will go - either abroad or into domestic emigration," Brezigar told Večer (Jul. 19) about her plans to enter politics. Nevertheless, Brezigar, who ran for the presidential office last autumn and lost against Janez Drnovšek, has the impression that "a different Slovenia is awakening". And if this trend continues, she might decide to run for a seat in parliament next year.