Slovenian PM seeks to block ex-minister's EU appointment amid diplomatic shake-up

Slovenian diplomacy is embroiled in a significant personnel dispute as Prime Minister Janez Janša seeks to prevent the appointment of Tanja Fajon, the former foreign minister, to a key European Union post. The controversy centers on Fajon's potential role as the EU's special representative for the Sahel.

The government's attempt to block Fajon's nomination has caused ripples within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Unofficial reports suggest that even the current Foreign Minister, Tone Kajzer, was surprised by Janša's intervention. The ministry issued a statement on Saturday morning explicitly denying any support for Fajon's candidacy, calling claims of cooperation or endorsement "untrue and misleading."

According to the statement, Minister Kajzer did not propose Fajon for the position, nor did he support her application or participate in any related procedures. The ministry emphasized that any assertions to the contrary are false. The ministry indicated that Fajon and Kajzer may have discussed her candidacy during the handover of duties approximately a month prior.

Peter Žerjavič, Delo's correspondent in Brussels, noted that Fajon's appointment is on the provisional agenda for the upcoming meeting of EU member state permanent representatives on Wednesday. The requirement for a qualified majority for such appointments significantly restricts the government's options. This intervention by Janša marks a departure from the government's previous stance, as they had not previously expressed reservations about Fajon's nomination in EU Council meetings.

Adding to the diplomatic turbulence, former Foreign Minister Samuel Žbogar resigned last week from his position as Slovenia's permanent representative to the United Nations in New York. Žbogar was appointed to this role by the previous government led by Robert Golob.

“

Minister Tone Kajzer did not propose Tanja Fajon for the mentioned position, did not support her candidacy, and did not participate in any process related to her candidacy. Therefore, the claims that he stood behind her candidacy or supported it in any way are untrue and misleading.