Slovenia's lawmakers elected a center-right leader Saturday as the new prime minister, easing political tensions in the small EU nation, according to AP. Janez Jansa, whose Slovenian Democratic Party was second in the Dec. 4 balloting, was approved in a 51-39 vote in the 90-member parliament. Another parliamentary vote is needed to elect the Cabinet, and end months of political instability that followed the fall of the previous government in September. The new government must tackle economic problems rising from the EU debt crisis. Slovenia's public debt has swollen to 44 percent of gross domestic product, and unemployment is at about 12 percent. "The situation is serious, but it is not alarming," Jansa told lawmakers in a speech. "Economic forecasts are pessimistic." Slovenia is both a member of the 27-nation EU and of the 17 nations who use the euro common currency. Jansa has pledged to cut public spending as part of measures against the crisis - starting with the cut in the number of government ministries from 15 to 11. The first task of the government would be stabilization of public finances, followed by creation of a more favorable business environment, Jansa announced.
