LJUBLJANA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar resigned late on Wednesday hours after a key investment project was dealt a legal blow.
Cerar announced his resignation in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling to annul the result of a September referendum that approved the government's biggest investment program, a railway project worth 1 billion euros (1.23 billion U.S. dollars.)
"The ...project has been hit by another blow, delivered by those who want to stop Slovenia's positive development. I don't want to be part of such stories," he said.
In addition, at a press conference held in the capital, Cerar expressed strong dissatisfaction at coalition partners without naming specific parties, saying they have been trying to undermine projects. Slovenia's ruling coalition includes Cerar's center-left Party of Modern Center, the Social Democrats and pensioners' party Desus.
His government took power in September 2014. His stepping down came less than three months before a general election is expected to be held in June in the Balkan state.
Cerar said he would remain in office until a new government is formed, and that President Borut Pahor would decide whether to call an early election.
The blocked 24-km Second Track Divaca-Koper railway project is intended to connect the coastal cities of Koper and Divaca, and extend to Ljubljana as well. Media reports said Cerar has considered the project vital for Slovenia's development.
