Medtem ko KPK spreminja pravila za poslance, podatki o premoženju njene predsednice niso javno dostopni

In early 2026, the Commission for Prevention of Corruption (KPK) in Slovenia made significant changes to its rules regarding asset declarations for public officials, including members of parliament. However, these changes have raised questions about transparency, particularly concerning the head of the commission, Katarine Bervar Sternad. Despite the new regulations requiring all officials to submit full asset reports upon assuming their roles, detailed information on Bervar Sternad's assets remains unavailable on publicly accessible pages of the KPK website, including sections such as the Erar register and the "Asset Status" section. According to official data from the KPK, she had no assets subject to reporting when she assumed her position in April 2026.

This situation has sparked debate over whether this represents genuine modesty or a highly effective management of private finances that remains outside public scrutiny. The issue is especially pertinent given that Bervar Sternad leads an institution responsible for monitoring the asset status of officials. Reports also indicate that there are limitations on business operations affecting five companies, but this information is not clearly visible on the KPK’s publicly available lists.

The change in reporting rules came at the end of March 2026, when the commission altered its stance on asset declarations. Under the new policy, all officials must report their entire asset status upon taking office, even if they have previously held similar positions without needing to disclose their full financial status again. Previously, if someone left one public role within a month of starting another—such as being re-elected as a member of parliament, becoming a mayor, or being reappointed as a deputy—the requirement was only to report any changes in function rather than the complete asset status. In practice, some officials who held continuous roles for years did not report their asset status for decades. As a result, the Senate of the KPK adopted a new stance: from now on, officials must report their full asset status upon each new mandate, with exceptions only for transitions from parliamentary roles to ministerial or secretarial positions.

This change was implemented through an internal resolution of the commission rather than a legal amendment, which critics argue suggests that Bervar Sternad unilaterally changed the rules. Officials who failed to comply with the new requirements face penalties. Critics note that the KPK already possesses the necessary data but still demands new comprehensive reports.

Bervar Sternad led the Legal Center for Human Rights and Environment (PIC) for many years before joining the KPK. She directed the organization from 2010, more than 16 years, and had been employed there since 2004. During her tenure, PIC received substantial public funds and was active in migration issues, providing legal assistance to foreigners and refugees. Earlier reports indicated that a former police officer claimed that the organization helped migrants circumvent legal procedures and actively supported illegal migrations.

For the credibility of the KPK, merely having formal asset reports without visible data in public registers or selectively stricter rules for MPs is insufficient. Full transparency at all levels—including the commission itself—is needed.

Regarding additional work performed by MPs, a general prohibition exists against engaging in profit-making activities while serving in the National Assembly. However, certain exceptions allow MPs to perform other jobs. From this year, revised legislation under the General Law on Integrity and Prevention of Corruption (ZIntPK) has slightly tightened the rules on what MPs can do alongside their parliamentary duties. Previously, Article 13 of the law on MPs allowed them to engage in other paid work, provided it did not interfere with their parliamentary duties, up to a fifth of their working time or eight hours per week. Now, the ZIntPK’s Article 26 limits the range of activities MPs and other state officials can undertake alongside their functions and outlines the process for obtaining permission for such activities.

MPs can freely engage in sports or journalistic activities, manage their own property, or run a farm. They can also engage in educational, scientific, research, artistic, or cultural activities, but these require approval from the electoral commission of the National Assembly. Currently, there are no known cases of such approvals in the current session.

Members of the SDS parliamentary group reject the KPK’s findings that their MPs have not submitted asset reports. They argue that the ZIntPK does not require re-reporting for MPs who were re-elected and had already submitted their reports during the previous session. The KPK interprets the matter differently.

There is an additional exception allowing MPs to engage in other professions or activities aimed at earning income. This decision rests with the KPK, which must assess whether such activities could compromise the impartiality of the MP. The KPK can impose conditions and restrictions on such activities.

Currently, five MPs have such permissions. The KPK granted them under the condition that they exclude themselves from decisions in the National Assembly involving their employers. For example, Felice Ziza, an MP from the Italian National Community, will be able to work as a surgeon at the General Hospital Izola for up to eight hours per week. Tadej Ostrc, an MP from the Democrats, who later became the Minister of Health, could have worked as a dentist at a private dental clinic Vergina, but he has since taken on the ministerial role with similar restrictions. Vinko Levstek from the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) and Dušan Stojanovič from the Freedom Movement could work as officiants at weddings—Levstek in Ribnica and Stojanovič in Slovenj Gradec. Vladimir Šega participated in this year’s Lent Festival but has since completed his work, requesting permission only for the period between June 26 and July 4. All others received permission for the entire term.

An additional exception allows MPs to engage in other professions or activities aimed at earning income. This decision is made by the KPK, which must determine whether such activities could potentially threaten the impartiality of the MP.

As previously reported, MP Boris Mijič from the party Resnica found himself under scrutiny by the KPK due to his work for his construction company. While already serving as an MP, he worked on the renovation project of Ljubljana railway station, where he was spotted on the construction site in mid-June. Mijič did not request permission from the KPK to engage in this additional work and reportedly issued invoices through his wife's limited liability company.

The SDS rejects the need for re-submission of asset reports by re-elected MPs. All MPs must report their assets upon assuming their roles, and the KPK uses these data for various purposes.