Slovenian Minister Gjerkes resigns after drunk driving arrest

Slovenian Minister Gjerkes resigns after drunk driving arrest

2010-12-22 13:46:24 GMT+7 (ICT)

LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA (BNO NEWS) -- Slovenian Minister Henrik Gjerkes submitted his resignation on Tuesday after he was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on Monday night.

Local government and regional development minister Gjerkes, 45, had been arrested on Monday when driving back from a Christmas party. He came to the attention of police officers as he was driving too slow and had sustained a flat tire.

Officers pulled over Gjerkes and determined he had a blood alcohol level of 0.64mg/l, while the maximum allowed level is only 0.24 mg/l. He was taken into custody and spent the night in jail at a southern Ljubljana police station.

On Tuesday, Gjerkes publicly expressed his regret for his actions and submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Borut Pahor. The Slovenian government later held meetings in order to look for a suitable replacement, and indications are that Trobec BuÄanovo will be chosen as Gjerkes' successor.

Gjerkes said he choose to resign because his actions had endangered his party, the local government and regional development ministry and the federal government. However, he noted that his dismissal had nothing to do with the quality of his work as minister.

Gjerkes, who was appointed as minister in October 2009 and is a member of the Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia (DeSUS), later said he plans to return to the academia. PM Pahor has accepted his resignation.

Pahor said that Gjerkes' conduct was not in accordance with the ethics code of the government officials. However, he noted that Gjerkes voluntarily decided to step aside in a high moral gesture which should also be a high standard of conduct of officials in the future.

Pahor further remarked that Gjerkes' ministerial job were highly effective, especially in the management of European funds. The DeSUS party is expected to announce the new Minister for Local Government and Regional Development in the coming days.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-12-22