June 30 (SeeNews) - Slovenian interior minister Ales Hojs has resigned, he said on Tuesday.
The resignation letter was submitted to prime minister Janez Jansa, Ales said on its Twitter account, adding that he has also informed Jansa about receiving and accepting the resignation of the head of police, Anton Travner.
Ales pointed out that he is stepping down, because his powers as cabinet minister and the existing legislation do not allow him to work effectively towards depoliticising and transforming the police force.
State broadcaster RTV Slovenija reported that Jansa has accepted Hojs' resignation.
Earlier on Tuesday, Slovenia's State Prosecutor's Office launched house searches at several locations, including the home of economy minister Zdravko Pocivalsek, as part an ongoing investigation into 8 million euro worth of deals for medical ventilators which the government has signed with local firm Geneplanet to help hospitals treat coronavirus patients.
News daily Delo quoted Ales as saying during a news conference on Tuesday that the house searches were politically motivated, and therefore he is taking the political responsibility for them by submitting his resignation.