The recent last-minute change in Slovenia’s Commissioner nominees has caused a public dispute between Prime Minister Robert Golob and the opposition party. Golob accused the opposition of deliberately obstructing the process to embarrass him. The original nominee, Tomaž Vesel, resigned, leading to the nomination of Marta Kos as a replacement candidate. However, the parliamentary committee for EU affairs, led by an SDS MP, refused to schedule Kos’ hearing until they received a letter from Ursula von der Leyen regarding Vesel’s withdrawal. This delay could impact von der Leyen’s portfolio reveal.
The opposition party claims that Golob’s actions have damaged Slovenia’s reputation in Brussels and have not protected the country’s sovereignty. While the original nominee Vesel was approved by the opposition, Kos is a more divisive figure due to her past affiliations and controversies. The opposition believes that even if Kos is approved by the domestic parliamentary committee, she may not get support from the Slovenian delegation in the European Parliament due to her background.
Golob has refrained from commenting on the Commissioner appointment process until the parliamentary procedure is complete. The ongoing dispute has brought attention to the power struggle between the government and the opposition in Slovenia, with implications on the country’s relationship with the European Union.
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