The parliamentary Commission for Credentials and Privileges unanimously endorsed on Thursday President Borut Pahor's nominee for central bank governor. Boštjan Jazbec, a senior adviser with the IMF, can apparently count on record support in parliament.
Pahor officially nominated Jazbec on Tuesday after consulting deputy groups. The president was convinced by Jazbec's resume, particularly his work in science and research, which has constantly been intertwined with monetary policy and finances.
According to Secretary General of Pahor's office Nataša Kovač, the term of the incumbent governor, Marko Kranjec, expires in mid-July and "a timely replacement at the helm of such an important institution is sending an important message to our and the international community that the institution in charge of stability of the financial system is functioning normally".
"The financial crisis has put central banks is a new light. The situation in Slovenia demands a person who is not burdened with the problems of transition, an expert with experience at home and abroad," Kovač summed up Pahor's decision to nominate Jazbec.
Pahor is convinced that Jazbec will restore people's trust in Banka Slovenije and other financial institutions in Slovenia and abroad, a sentiment echoed by the members of the parliamentary commission today.
"If he works like this in practice, we will definitely have a good governor," Franc Jurša of the coalition Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) said.
Matej Tonin of the opposition New Slovenia (NSi) highlighted Jazbec's optimism and his clear-cut solution for the setting up of a bad bank, which Tonin sees as key for the bailing out of the banking system.
"It seems Jazbec will get a record high support at the National Assembly," he announced.
To be appointed, Jazbec needs an absolute majority of votes (more than 45). All deputy groups bar the Social Democrats (SD) have already announced support to Jazbec.
SD head Igor Lukšič said on Tuesday he found it "not enough ambitious" that the key and only criterion for the governor's appointment is getting majority support in parliament.
The National Assembly is expected to take a vote on Jazbec's appointment next Tuesday.
Source: Slovenia times
