Zoran Thaler
Encyclopedia
Zoran Thaler is a Slovenia
n politician
and businessman. He is a former Slovenian Foreign Minister and a former Member of European Parliament.
in former Yugoslavia
(now in Slovenia
). He graduated from political science
at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Ljubljana
. He started his political career in the Alliance of the Socialist Youth of Slovenia (ZSMS), the largely autonomous youth and student organisation, many times in opposition to the League of Communists of Slovenia
.
In the first free elections in Slovenia, he was elected to the Slovenian Parliament
as member of the Alliance of the Socialist Youth of Slovenia – Liberal Party (later renamed to Liberal Democratic Party) and became Deputy Foreign Minister (1990–1993) in first democratic Government of Slovenia ruled by the DEMOS coalition. He was re-elected to the Parliament in 1992 and 1996 on the list of the ruling Liberal Democracy of Slovenia
. Between 1993 and 1995, he served as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Parliament.
In January 1995, he was nominated Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia in the government of Janez Drnovšek
, after Lojze Peterle
of the Slovene Christian Democrats
had resigned. Thaler's term in office was marked by tensions with neighbouring Italy
, which had already begun in the previous years. The disagreements between the two countries were mostly centered around the issue of property restitution to Italian refugees from Yugoslavia from the late 1940s
. Thaler was involved in several negotiations with the Italian Foreign Minister Susanna Agnelli
, in which he unblocked the Italian veto to Slovenia's access to the European Union
. The Italian counterpart demanded that Slovenia changed its constitutional provisions which prevented foreign citizens to acquire real estates in Slovenia. In 1996, Slovenia agreed to the so called "Spanish compromise", in which Slovenia promised to liberalize its property market regulations, allowing Italian and other EU citizens to purchase real estate in Slovenia. This resulted in the unblock of the Italian veto to Slovenia's access to the European Union
. The deal made possible that Slovenia signed The Association Agreement with the EU on 10 June 1996 in Luxembourg and formally applied for full membership in the EU the same day.
In May 1996, Thaler was impeached by the Parliament. In the final impeachment vote, a part of the ruling coalition (MPs from the Slovene Christian Democrats
) joined the two major opposition forces (the Slovenian People's Party
and the Social Democratic Party of Slovenia).
In December 1996, Thaler was re-elected to Parliament on the list of the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia. In 1997 he became again Minister of Foreign Affairs in Janez Drnovšek's third cabinet. During his mandate, the Parliament ratified the Association Agreement with the EU, after having changed the Constitution a day earlier in accordance with the Spanish compromise. The European Commission gave a positive opinion on the Slovenian application for full membership shortly afterwards. After that achievement Thaler left politics for business. Between 2004 and 2006, he served as chairman of Si.mobil
, Slovenia's second largest mobile operator.
In 2009, he headed the list of the Social Democrats
for the European Parliament
, not being a member of the party and was elected on June, 7 2009. Currently he is MEP (2009–2014), Rapporteur for Macedonia, Vice-Chairman of the EP Delegation for South Caucasus and member of EP Foreign Affairs Committee.
In March 2011, The Sunday Times
implicated Mr. Thaler among other MEPs in a ‘cash-for-laws
’ scandal. Sunday Times also provided video of Mr. Thaler discussing adding amendments to EU laws in exchange for cash.
On 21 March he resigned as MEP.
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and businessman. He is a former Slovenian Foreign Minister and a former Member of European Parliament.
Political career
He was born in KranjKranj
' is the third largest municipality and fourth largest city in Slovenia, with a population of 54,500 . It is located approximately 20 km north-west of Ljubljana...
in former Yugoslavia
Former Yugoslavia
The former Yugoslavia is a term used to describe the present day states which succeeded the collapse of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia....
(now in Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
). He graduated from political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Ljubljana
University of Ljubljana
The University of Ljubljana is the oldest and largest university in Slovenia. With 64,000 enrolled graduate and postgraduate students, it is among the largest universities in Europe.-Beginnings:...
. He started his political career in the Alliance of the Socialist Youth of Slovenia (ZSMS), the largely autonomous youth and student organisation, many times in opposition to the League of Communists of Slovenia
League of Communists of Slovenia
The League of Communists of Slovenia was the Slovenian branch of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia, the sole legal party of Yugoslavia from 1945 to 1989...
.
In the first free elections in Slovenia, he was elected to the Slovenian Parliament
Slovenian Parliament
The Slovenian Parliament is the informal designation of the general representative body of the Slovenian nation and the legislative body of the Republic of Slovenia....
as member of the Alliance of the Socialist Youth of Slovenia – Liberal Party (later renamed to Liberal Democratic Party) and became Deputy Foreign Minister (1990–1993) in first democratic Government of Slovenia ruled by the DEMOS coalition. He was re-elected to the Parliament in 1992 and 1996 on the list of the ruling Liberal Democracy of Slovenia
Liberal Democracy of Slovenia
Liberal Democracy of Slovenia is a liberal political party in Slovenia. It is led by Katarina Kresal and is a member of the Liberal International and the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party...
. Between 1993 and 1995, he served as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Parliament.
In January 1995, he was nominated Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia in the government of Janez Drnovšek
Janez Drnovšek
Janez Drnovšek was a Slovenian liberal politician, President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia , Prime Minister of Slovenia and President of Slovenia . He was born in Celje, Slovenia, then the Socialist Republic of Slovenia...
, after Lojze Peterle
Lojze Peterle
Alojz "Lojze" Peterle is a Slovenian politician. He was the leader of the Slovene Christian Democrats from the founding of the party in 1990 until it merged with the Slovenian People's Party in 2000. Between 1990 and 1992, he was the president of the first freely elected Slovenian government, and...
of the Slovene Christian Democrats
Slovene Christian Democrats
The Slovene Christian Democrats was a Christian Democrat political party in Slovenia between 1989 and 2000.It was founded as the Slovene Christian Social Movement in March of 1989. Its first president was Peter Kovačič Peršin...
had resigned. Thaler's term in office was marked by tensions with neighbouring Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, which had already begun in the previous years. The disagreements between the two countries were mostly centered around the issue of property restitution to Italian refugees from Yugoslavia from the late 1940s
Istrian exodus
The expression Istrian exodus or Istrian-Dalmatian exodus is used to indicate the departure of ethnic Italians from Istria, Rijeka, and Dalmatia , after World War II. At the time of the exodus, these territories were part of the SR Croatia and SR Slovenia , today they are parts of the Republics of...
. Thaler was involved in several negotiations with the Italian Foreign Minister Susanna Agnelli
Susanna Agnelli
Susanna Agnelli, Contessa Rattazzi, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian politician, businesswoman and writer...
, in which he unblocked the Italian veto to Slovenia's access to the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. The Italian counterpart demanded that Slovenia changed its constitutional provisions which prevented foreign citizens to acquire real estates in Slovenia. In 1996, Slovenia agreed to the so called "Spanish compromise", in which Slovenia promised to liberalize its property market regulations, allowing Italian and other EU citizens to purchase real estate in Slovenia. This resulted in the unblock of the Italian veto to Slovenia's access to the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. The deal made possible that Slovenia signed The Association Agreement with the EU on 10 June 1996 in Luxembourg and formally applied for full membership in the EU the same day.
In May 1996, Thaler was impeached by the Parliament. In the final impeachment vote, a part of the ruling coalition (MPs from the Slovene Christian Democrats
Slovene Christian Democrats
The Slovene Christian Democrats was a Christian Democrat political party in Slovenia between 1989 and 2000.It was founded as the Slovene Christian Social Movement in March of 1989. Its first president was Peter Kovačič Peršin...
) joined the two major opposition forces (the Slovenian People's Party
Slovenian People's Party
The Slovenian People's Party is a rural-based conservative political party in Slovenia. Formed in 1988 under the name of Slovenian Peasant Union as the first non-Communist political organization in Yugoslavia, it merged with the Slovene Christian Democrats to form the present-day party in 2000...
and the Social Democratic Party of Slovenia).
In December 1996, Thaler was re-elected to Parliament on the list of the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia. In 1997 he became again Minister of Foreign Affairs in Janez Drnovšek's third cabinet. During his mandate, the Parliament ratified the Association Agreement with the EU, after having changed the Constitution a day earlier in accordance with the Spanish compromise. The European Commission gave a positive opinion on the Slovenian application for full membership shortly afterwards. After that achievement Thaler left politics for business. Between 2004 and 2006, he served as chairman of Si.mobil
Si.mobil
Si.mobil is the second largest mobile operator in Slovenia. In January 2008 it passed the milestone of 500,000 customers.-History:The company was established in December 1997 and began operating in March 1999 as the Slovenian first private mobile operator....
, Slovenia's second largest mobile operator.
In 2009, he headed the list of the Social Democrats
Social Democrats (Slovenia)
The Social Democrats is a centre-left political party in Slovenia, currently led by Borut Pahor. From 1993 until 2005, the party was known as the United List of Social Democrats .-Origins:...
for the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, not being a member of the party and was elected on June, 7 2009. Currently he is MEP (2009–2014), Rapporteur for Macedonia, Vice-Chairman of the EP Delegation for South Caucasus and member of EP Foreign Affairs Committee.
In March 2011, The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
implicated Mr. Thaler among other MEPs in a ‘cash-for-laws
2011 cash for influence scandal
The Sunday Times revealed that Adrian Severin, Ernst Strasser and Zoran Thaler did or did try to influence EU legislation in exchange for money. Both Strasser and Thaler resigned in March 2011....
’ scandal. Sunday Times also provided video of Mr. Thaler discussing adding amendments to EU laws in exchange for cash.
On 21 March he resigned as MEP.