(ANSA-AFP) - LJUBLJANA, FEB 15 - Slovenia's parliament met on Monday to debate a no-confidence motion against conservative Prime Minister Janez Jansa's government, accused by the opposition of exploiting the pandemic to turn the country into an "authoritarian democracy". This is the second attempt in as many months to oust Jansa, a similar motion in January having failed due to virus-related absences among several MPs. "You are here to choose between an authoritarian democracy and a normal, constitutional and democratic Slovenia," Karl Erjavec, leader of the opposition DESUS party, told lawmakers at the beginning of the debate. A vote on the motion is expected late on Monday.

Erjavec filed the motion last week in the name of five opposition centre-left parties who have proposed him as an alternative candidate if a majority of the 90 MPs vote for the motion. However, the five parties backing the motion only hold 43 seats in parliament -- three short of a majority. (ANSA-AFP).