Patria Bribery Accusations Electrify Election Debate

Ljubljana, 4 September - Prime Minister Janez Jansa maintains his innocence in the face of allegations by a Finnish TV show that he had been bribed in a EUR 278m defence deal with Finnish contractor Patria. "I did not receive bribes," Jansa told Thursday's election debate on POP TV, which dealt with a topic that overshadowed all others three weeks before the elections.

Ljubljana NSi lawmaker Alojz Sok arriving at an election debate dedicated to a scandal involving the biggest Slovenian defence deal. Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

Ljubljana
NSi lawmaker Alojz Sok arriving at an election debate dedicated to a scandal involving the biggest Slovenian defence deal.
Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

Ljubljana Zares leader Gregor Golobic (right) and SD deputy Milan M. Cvikl at at election debate dedicated to a scandal involving the biggest Slovenian defence deal. Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

Ljubljana
Zares leader Gregor Golobic (right) and SD deputy Milan M. Cvikl at at election debate dedicated to a scandal involving the biggest Slovenian defence deal.
Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

Ljubljana SDS leader Janez Jansa (right) and DeSUS president Karl Erjavec at election debate dedicated to a scandal involving the biggest Slovenian defence deal. Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

Ljubljana
SDS leader Janez Jansa (right) and DeSUS president Karl Erjavec at election debate dedicated to a scandal involving the biggest Slovenian defence deal.
Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

Ljubljana Zares leader Gregor Golobic arriving at the election debate that dealt with accusations of bribery in a defence deal with Finnish Patria. Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

Ljubljana
Zares leader Gregor Golobic arriving at the election debate that dealt with accusations of bribery in a defence deal with Finnish Patria.
Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

Ljubljana SD deputy Milan M. Cvikl arriving at an election debate dedicated to a scandal involving the biggest Slovenian defence deal. Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

Ljubljana
SD deputy Milan M. Cvikl arriving at an election debate dedicated to a scandal involving the biggest Slovenian defence deal.
Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

Ljubljana LDS leader Katarina Kresal arriving at an election debate dedicated to a scandal involving the biggest Slovenian defence deal. Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

Ljubljana
LDS leader Katarina Kresal arriving at an election debate dedicated to a scandal involving the biggest Slovenian defence deal.
Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

Ljubljana SMS leader Darko Krajnc arriving at an election debate dedicated to a scandal involving the biggest Slovenian defence deal. Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

Ljubljana
SMS leader Darko Krajnc arriving at an election debate dedicated to a scandal involving the biggest Slovenian defence deal.
Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

Ljubljana DeSUS leader Karl Erjavec arriving at an election debate dedicated to a scandal involving the biggest Slovenian defence deal. Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

Ljubljana
DeSUS leader Karl Erjavec arriving at an election debate dedicated to a scandal involving the biggest Slovenian defence deal.
Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

Ljubljana SNS president Zmago Jelincic arriving at an election debate dedicated to a scandal involving the biggest Slovenian defence deal. Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

Ljubljana
SNS president Zmago Jelincic arriving at an election debate dedicated to a scandal involving the biggest Slovenian defence deal.
Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

Ljubljana Lipa leader Saso Pece arriving at an election debate dedicated to a scandal involving the biggest Slovenian defence deal. Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

Ljubljana
Lipa leader Saso Pece arriving at an election debate dedicated to a scandal involving the biggest Slovenian defence deal.
Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

Ljubljana Prime Minister Janez Jansa arriving at an election debate dedicated to a scandal involving the biggest Slovenian defence deal. Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

Ljubljana
Prime Minister Janez Jansa arriving at an election debate dedicated to a scandal involving the biggest Slovenian defence deal.
Photo: Domen Groegl/STA

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