Prime Minister Borut Pahor has said that all the conditions set by the junior coalition Liberal Democrats (LDS) to remain in the coalition will be met. He announced Thursday he would inform LDS leader Katarina Kresal in writing that "with this the coalition and the government can push ahead with work normally".

Pahor also told that he obtained assurances from Justice Minister Aleš Zalar, State Prosecutor General Barbara Brezigar and Prosecutor Branka Zober Hrastar that they have no objections to making the minutes of the meeting held among them on 19 March public. This was one of the three conditions set by the LDS.

However, Pahor said that Brezigar had added that one of the prosecutors heading work on of the cases would have to review the minutes first to verify that nothing said at the meeting could harm the investigation in this specific case.

He said the minutes would be released once the prosecution confirms that there is no material in them that could harm the investigation.

The LDS threatened to leave the coalition due to Pahor’s failure to back Zalar in his dispute with Brezigar. The prime minister called the 19 March meeting in a bid to calm tensions between the two.

The smallest coalition partner now wants Pahor to publicly back the findings of Zalar regarding alleged violations by Brezigar of her duties as state prosecutor general.

Pahor explained today that Zalar’s report had been endorsed by the government as well as by him. He however told the minister that "at this point" he saw no firm reasons that would convince him or the public that Brezigar deserves to be dismissed.

"I feel the same today," he added, explaining that Zalar still had the chance to submit his proposal to dismiss Brezigar to a vote of the government.

LDS president Kresal pointed out on a sidelines of a panel on family violence today that Zalar’s report also stated that Brezigar had acted illegally and that Pahor was thus quietly condoning illegal operations at the State Prosecution.

Another demand from the LDS is for Pahor to publicly back a reform of the organisation and operations of the State Prosecution through a new bill on the state prosecution drawn up by the Justice Ministry.

Pahor said he would "absolutely" back Zalar’s proposal to "take on a reform of the prosecution", adding that he did not find any of the demands of the LDS problematic.

The prime minister said that his task was to do everything in his power to prevent an unnecessary political crisis.

"I care preciously little today how the public will receive the fact that all the conditions will be met on my part for the LDS to stay in the government."

While Kresal noted that the LDS was not confronting Pahor with an ultimatum but merely wanted to know whether it would be possible to carry out a reform of the prosecution, she said that Pahor’s decision about Brezigar meant that this was not the case.

"We cannot ignore that Brezigar is acting illegally, rejecting in advance any changes...and pretending that everything is well at the prosecution, that it is effective in prosecuting white collar crime," Kresal said about the possibility of reform under Brezigar.

Meanwhile, Pahor commented on the request for a summit of the coalition put forward by Gregor Golobic by saying that the Zares president probably meant a regular meeting of the heads of coalition parties, "which will be held on Tuesday".

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