Operational audits by ministries: deficiencies and forensic checks

New financial discrepancies have been revealed across several ministries following the transfer of power in June 2026, with ministers Anže Logar, Janez Cigler Kralj, and Ignacija Fridl Jarc publicly disclosing budget gaps and announcing forensic audits. Minister Franc Kangler has raised concerns over millions of euros allegedly taken by police, while Monika Kirbiš Rojs highlighted challenges related to cohesion funds. The new government, led by Janez Janša, has taken a firm stance toward reviewing the financial practices of the previous administration under Robert Golob. The audit process began shortly after the handover of authority in early June 2026. Ministers from key departments including culture, economy, labor, sports, agriculture, forestry, and food have begun releasing information about financial shortfalls. These revelations come amid broader efforts to assess the fiscal health of past governance structures. The audits cover multiple areas, responding to the discovery of significant financial gaps, particularly concerning approved projects, budget management, and European Union funding. The goal is to ensure transparency, protect public resources, and enable the continuation of essential programs. In the Ministry of Economy, Labor, and Sports, Minister Anže Logar immediately initiated a review of the ministry’s financial status upon taking office. He issued a statement highlighting the severity of the situation: “There is a shortage of funds, which is a major issue.” Logar emphasized that this was not solely due to the actions of former Finance Minister Matjaž Han, but rather stemmed from the previous government, especially the Ministry of Finance, which had withheld EU funds at the end of 2025 without returning them. As a result, current programs aimed at boosting development in the Zasavska and SAŠA regions could not proceed on time. Logar stated they would find solutions. According to media reports, the shortfall affects both already approved projects and future planning. For 2026, approximately 16 million euros are missing, while for 2027, the gap rises to around 66 million euros. This totals nearly 82 million euros. The issues primarily affect transitional region programs, such as those supporting new jobs, entrepreneurship, retraining, and investments in energy transition. Logar announced plans for optimization of procurement processes and measures to address the deficit. In the context of ongoing audits of public tenders conducted by the Agency SPIRIT, the new team will evaluate the effectiveness of procedures and prevent similar problems in the future. Although Logar has taken over Han's role, he acknowledged that Han had participated in the previous government and had not previously publicly pointed out these issues. At the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food, Minister Janez Cigler Kralj presented alarming findings during a press conference. He noted that the state of affairs within his department was far from ideal. Cigler Kralj announced a thorough analysis of the budget and a forensic examination of the previous administration’s operations. On the topic of climate adaptation adjustments for insurance premiums, there is a shortfall of nearly nine million euros. In the sector of viticulture, instead of the planned half a million euros, only 62,000 euros were available, leaving a gap of 438,000 euros. Cigler Kralj indicated that there are indications of unlawful activities and that external partners will be involved in investigating potential violations. He warned that responsibility would be sought for any funds misused or improperly reallocated. Cigler Kralj also mentioned that the minutes from the handover of leadership in the ministry, prepared by the former minister Mateja Čalušić, were not signed due to incomplete data. While the ministry managed to obtain the missing information within a month, Čalušić claimed she lacked the time to sign. Despite these challenges, the ministry continues to strive for dialogue with all involved parties. Cigler Kralj noted that over the past four years, agricultural organizations, unions, faculties, and professional institutions were excluded from decision-making processes. The highest representatives of the state remain engaged in addressing these complex matters.