8th Government of Slovenia

The 8th Government of Slovenia led by Prime Minister Janez Janša was announced on 3 December 2004. The government was formed after the 2004 Slovenian parliamentary election. It was the first government of Janez Janša, and third centre-right government in the history of the Republic of Slovenia. Slovenian Democratic Party won on the elections 29% of the votes and so became the strongest parliamentary party in the National Assembly. The party nominated Janez Janša as the candidate for the mandatary, who was confirmed by the president Janez Drnovšek. It was one of the most stable governments of Slovenia, which ruled in the times of the greatest economical boom. In 2004–2006, the economy grew on average by nearly 5% a year in Slovenia; in 2007, it expanded by almost 7%. The growth surge was fuelled by debt, particularly among firms, and especially in construction. The price for a boom that veered out of control has been paid in years from 2009 onwards.

Cabinet members came from four parties of the new coalition and Independent candidates:

Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) - 6 Ministers - 6 Ministers + 1 Minister without portfolio at the end of the term New Slovenia (NSi) - 4 Minister Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia (DeSUS) - 1 Minister SLS - 2 Ministers + 1 Minister without portfolio 3 Independent Ministers - 2 Independent Ministerst at the end of the term

Changes from the preceding cabinet The number of ministries was raised from 16 in the Rop cabinet to 17. It was the third government led by the centre-right party.

Ministry of Education was divided on to two ministries: Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Education. The first covered the fields of higher and academic education and the second the fields of primary and secondary education. Ministry of Legislation was renamed to Ministry of Justice.

List of ministers and portfolios

History The first interpelation was given to Minister of Culture Vasko Simoniti in October 2006, which was later refused by National Assembly on 30 of November 2006. The first change was made on 27 March 2006 when Jože Damjan was replaced with at the time Independent candidate Andrej Horvat. The next change to follow was the replacement of Janez Drobnič, minister of Minister of Social Affairs. The prime minister Janša proposed his dismissal because statements about how to rise fertility in country. Many were also discontented with his work. Marjeta Cotman replaced him on the position. The change of Janez Drobnič trigged a mini coalition crisis as there were many ministers people and Janša were displeased with, among them also Dragutin Mate (poor treatment with Roma minority in Slovenia), Dimitrij Rupel (The Economist marked his diplomatic capabilities as "clumsy"), Jure Zupan, Marija Lukačič (incompetence and difficulties with communication with the media) and Vasko Simoniti who at the time recently "survived" interpelation. The second interpelation was against the Minister of Health Andrej Bručan that was filed by Liberal Democracy of Slovenia (LDS) on 11 October 2006. The minister underwent the interpelation and continued with his work. On 30 October 2007 ministers Andrej Bručan (health issues), Janez Božič and Jure Zupan resigned from their positions. Janša accepted their resignation and named new ministers. The new Minister of Health became Zofija Mazej Kukovič, the new Minister for Transport Radovan Žerjav and the new Ministry of Higher Education Mojca Kucler Dolinar.

Composition at the end of the mandate

Minister Party Portfolio PeriodJanez JanšaSDSPrime Minister3 December 2004 – 21 November 2008Karl ErjavecDeSUSMinister of Defence3 December 2004 – 21 November 2008Zofija Mazej KukovičSDSMinister of Health11 September 2007 – 21 November 2008Radovan ŽerjavSLSMinister of Transport11 September 2007 – 21 November 2008Andrej BajukNSiMinister of Finance3 December 2004 – 21 November 2008Milan ZverSDSMinister of Education3 December 2004 – 21 November 2008Mojca Kucler DolinarNSiMinister of Higher Education1 October 2007 – 21 November 2008Janez Podobnik SLSMinister of Environment3 December 2004 – 21 November 2008Andrej VizjakSDSMinister of Economy3 December 2004 – 21 November 2008Dragutin MateSDSMinister of Interior3 December 2004 – 21 November 2008Marjeta CotmanNSiMinister of Social Affairs18 December 2006 – 21 November 2008Dimitrij RupelIndependentMinister of Foreign Affairs3 December 2004 – 21 November 2008Lovro ŠturmNSiMinister of Justice3 December 2004 – 21 November 2008Vasko SimonitiSDSMinister of Culture3 December 2004 – 21 November 2008Iztok JarcSDSMinister of Agriculture6 March 2007 – 21 November 2008Gregor VirantIndependentMinister of Public Administration3 December 2004 – 21 November 2008Ivan Žagar SLSMinister without portfolio for Local Autonomies and Regional Development3 December 2004 – 21 November 2008Žiga TurkSDSMinister without portfolio for Economic Development6 March 2007 – 21 November 2008Vlada Republike Slovenije

Former members

Minister Party Portfolio PeriodJure ZupanNSiMinister of Higher Education3 December 2004 – 1 October 2007Andrej BručanSDSMinister of Health3 December 2004 – 11 September 2007Janez DrobničNSiMinister of Social Affairs3 December 2004 – 1 December 2006Marija LukačičSDSMinister of Agriculture3 December 2004 – 6 March 2007Janez BožičSLSMinister of Transport3 December 2004 – 11 September 2007Jože DamjanIndependentMinister without portfolio for Economic Development3 December 2004 – 27 March 2006Andrej HorvatIndependent - SDMinister without portfolio for Economic Development27 March 2006 – 6 March 2007Source: Vlada Republike Slovenije

8th Government of Slovenia

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