Proposal to give army limited police powers on hold for now
Ljubljana, 25 March - The government has decided to wait before it formally proposes the activation of a legislative provision that gives the military limited police powers in controlling the border. Before a formal proposal to that effect is made, parliamentary factions will be consulted, Interior Minister Aleš Hojs said on Wednesday.
Ljubljana
Interior Minister Aleš Hojs speaks to the press about topical issues related to the coronavirus crisis.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA
Ljubljana
Interior Minister Aleš Hojs speaks to the press about topical issues related to the coronavirus crisis.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA
Ljubljana
Interior Minister Aleš Hojs speaks to the press about topical issues related to the coronavirus crisis.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA
Ljubljana
Interior Minister Aleš Hojs.
Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA
File photo
"We decided yesterday that I withdraw the proposal from the government's agenda for now... I will first conduct talks with all deputy groups. We want deputy groups to contribute their ideas and their thoughts, but most of all we want to include all deputy groups in relevant decision-making as to the appropriateness of this measure," he said.
Hojs stressed that the army was not currently needed on Slovenian roads, but it is "badly needed on Slovenia's southern border" with Croatia. This is because a portion of the police force had to be deployed to the border with Austria, where police checks were introduced at midnight, while a segment of the force had been put on standby to step in if officers become ill.