The executive committee of the Pozitive Slovenia Party supported the MP Alenka Bratušek’s proposal to nominate Alenka Trop Skaza for Health Minister, and Metod Dragonja for Minister of Economic Deveopment.
The committee also authorised the prime minister to finalize the coordination of the governmental departments, and governmental staffing levels, announced PS. Dragonja is a member of the party, while Trop Skaza is a non-party candidate.
The PS executive committee estimated that the Ministry of Health in last two years failed to achieve adequate progress in improving the health care. Reinforcement of the staff is necessary, as well as management changes, PS claim.
The executive committee also supported the draft of the new coalition agreement, and suggested to the Party Council to pass it on Thursday.
Komel into diplomacy?
The scenario according to which DeSUS gives up the health department to PS would lead – still unofficially – to withdrawal of Tina Komel from the position of head of the Office for Slovenians abroad, in favour of the Pensioners Party. Yet their executive committee should first, also officially, confirm their candidate Gorazda Žmavca. Komel is having a meeting with the head of the PS parliamentary group Janij Möderndorfer. In spite of the decision of DeSUS committee from Tuesday to insist on the Ministry of Health, a dialogue between DeSUS and PS regarding the switch of departments is still going on.
The new candidate for the Minister of Health introduced herself this morning to the Members of Parliament from the Civic List, and they seem to be enthralled by her, said Gregor Virant, the president of the CL. Both candidates introduced themselves to the PS parliamentary group on Tuesday.
Trop Skaza has no problems with stepping down
Alenka Trop Skaza said that in case she took over the ministerial position, she would wish for political will for changes. "Even if I get appointed, and the things won’t move in the right direction, I have no problem with a resignation, nor would I be embarrassed," she said after the conference on health strategy.
If everybody said no...
She said that she hadn’t spoken with the Prime Minister about her candidature or another possible female candidate for the Minister on this day. She admitted to be under pressure for days because of all kinds of statements, more or less interesting for media. She agreed to consider her candidature because she believed that, if everybody said no, "things couldn't move ahead". She also stressed her reluctance to deal with a system without political will for changes. "My motto is not to introduce politics into health, but to bring health into politicians."
Extensive reforms shouldn't be expected
She explained that within a year an extensive reform shouldn't be expected. In her opinion small and deliberate steps are necessary, along with the synergy of all involved actors, and with patients as a central point of action. "I am willing to take all the good solutions out of the drawer," she said, and continued that the solutions for Slovenian health care must be approached carefully, and with sincere intentions. "I am willing, and serious about it. I would not consider resignation tomorrow an embarrassment; I could go back to my professional environment, as I am not financially dependent on political survival," she explained.
She would like the presidents of the parliamentary parties to close ranks and start, as a priority, putting into effect the national health strategy. "Because if also the political parties fail to recognize that it is of national importance, then I don't know who will be held responsible."
