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A schedule of all the main events involving Slovenia this week can be found here
This summary is provided by the STA:
PM Šarec dismisses Brane Kralj as LMŠ secretary general
LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Marjan Šarec, the leader of the ruling Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), dismissed Brane Kralj as the party's secretary general following a report against him which claims that Kralj had tried to exert staffing pressure. Announcing the decision which comes after the party launched a debate on the allegations, Šarec told the press he had not been aware of the controversial phone call. Kralj has been reported to the authorities by the chief supervisor of Uradni List, Irena Prijović, who claims that he called her and tried to secure a top job at the state-owned publisher of the Official Gazette for former MEP Igor Šoltes and exert staffing pressure on her.
Coalition rejecting Left's proposal, budget support ultimatum
LJUBLJANA - The coalition parties rejected the opposition Left's proposal for abolishing top-up health insurance, deeming it ill-conceived. They highlighted they would not give in to the party's threats of withholding its support for the crucial 2020-2021 budgets if the government did not back the proposal. PM Marjan Šarec said after a government session the Left had the right to carry out its own politics, but added the government had other options in case the Left decides to withdraw its budget support. Asked whether he was implying cooperation with New Slovenia (NSi), the head of the Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) replied that it all depended on the further developments.
Government to help 47 Slovenians in Venezuela
LJUBLJANA - The government initiate repatriation procedures for 47 Venezuelans of Slovenian origin, who will be able to settle in Slovenia under a law that permits repatriation from countries hit by a severe political or economic crisis. Seven ministries will be involved and the effort coordinated by an interdepartmental task force, said Minister for Slovenians Abroad Peter Jožef Česnik. Slovenian Interior Ministry data puts the number of Slovenian citizens living in Venezuela at 335 but only 47 have so far asked for repatriation.
Cerar briefly meets Croatian counterpart in Helsinki
HELSINKI, Finland - Foreign Minister Miro Cerar met his Croatian counterpart Goran Grlić-Radman on the sidelines of an informal EU ministerial, but he had said in advance that the border arbitration agreement would not be a topic. Cerar did emphasise at the meeting Slovenia's commitment to the rule of law. Ahead of the meeting held on the sidelines of a dinner as part of the two-day informal meeting, Cerar told the press that Slovenia would advocate the enlargement of the EU to the Western Balkans and that respect of the rule of law was important. He told RTV Slovenija that it would be a short, informal talk which would mostly discuss the priorities of the EU presidency.
Energy and climate plan not to be ready by end-2019 deadline
LJUBLJANA - The government adopted a report on the drafting of the National Energy and Climate Plan, a document which will set the course of action for ten years until 2030. Faced with delays, the government will probably not be able to send the final version to Brussels by the end-of-the-year deadline, Infrastructure Minister Alenka Bratušek said, adding that her ministry was working on the plan and related calculations expeditiously.
New US and Dutch ambassadors present credentials
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor received the credentials of four new ambassadors to Slovenia: the new US Ambassador Lynda Gaye Cleveland Blanchard, Dutch Ambassador Marco Hennis, Guatemalan Ambassador Manuel Estuardo Roldán Barillas and Lao Ambassador Sithong Chitnhothinh. Only the US and Dutch ambassador are stationed in Slovenia.
Govt adopts decree to improve fire safety at waste storage facilities
LJUBLJANA - The government adopted a decree on storing combustible hard waste at open-air facilities in a bid to improve fire safety at such waste storage facilities to minimize environment pollution. The decree sets down standards and rules for the facilities at which such waste is stored, including rules for the storage of bulk waste and baled waste, as well as firewall rules. "This year we've seen a number of waste storage facilities catch fire. The new decree reduces the likelihood of such fires," Environment Minister Simon Zajc said.
Slovenians in Italy cautious about new Conte-led govt
TRIESTE, Italy - The Slovenian minority in Italy is cautious about the new Italian government which is to be formed by caretaker Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte with the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and the centre-left Democratic Party (PD), but still, they expect to get guaranteed representation in Italy's parliament. Since Senator Tatjana Rojc is a member of the minority and of the PD, Walter Bandelj of the Council of Slovenian Organisations (SSO) umbrella organisation expects the representation issue to be resolved.
Ascent Resources to demand EUR 50m in damages from Slovenia
LONDON, UK - The London-based oil and gas exploration company Ascent Resources will demand EUR 50 million in damages from Slovenia for delays in obtaining a permit to develop the Petišovci gas field in the north-east of the country, news portal Litigation Finance Journal reported. The British company earlier said it was preparing "legal claims for damages against the persistent delays in permitting relating to the further development of the tight gas reservoirs in the Petišovci gas field".
MHP holding buys out small Perutnina Ptuj shareholders
PTUJ - The Ukrainian MHP holding, the new majority owner of poultry producer Perutnina Ptuj, bought out the rest of small shareholders at an AGM, with the latter announcing to challenge the decision in court. MHP has thus squeezed out the small shareholders, who have not responded to the holding's recent takeover bid for the remaining shares. It now has 99.2% of the company's shares, excluding Perutnina Ptuj's own shares. The buy-out price tag includes compensation of EUR 22.34 per share, the same as the price offered in the bid.
Women's volleyball team in round of 16 at European Championship
LODZ, Poland - The Slovenian women's volleyball team made it to the round of 16 at the European Volleyball Championship as they beat Ukraine on Wednesday in five sets in the last match of the group stage. Slovenia fell behind 1:2 in sets in last evening's match, but then won two sets in a row, the last one decisively, to qualify for the elimination round. There, Slovenia will play Germany, the winner of Group D, in Slovakia's Bratislava on Sunday.
Maribor bid farewell from European competitions
MARIBOR - Slovenian football champions Maribor are out of the European club competitions after being eliminated in the last qualifying round of the second-tier Europa League by Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad. Maribor played a 0:0 draw with Ludogorets in the first leg last week, and played out another draw (2:2) against the Bulgarians at home on Thursday evening, but the latter made it to Europa League by virtue of scoring more away goals. Maribor had been previously eliminated from the qualifiers for the UEFA Champions League by Rosenborg of Norway.
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