Defeated, Erjavec withdrawing from public life
LJUBLJANA - After losing the contest for the presidency of the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS), which he has led for 15 years, Karl Erjavec announced he was withdrawing not only from active politics as Slovenia's defence minister but also from public life. Erjavec, who was surprisingly defeated by his younger colleague Aleksandra Pivec, a fellow minister, plans to discuss the timing of his resignation Prime Minister Marjan Šarec so as not to cause any inconvenience to the minority government. While Šarec is yet to respond, even coalition members admit that mustering a majority in parliament to appoint Šarec's replacement would be a challenge.
Ceremony appeals for keeping memory of Holocaust alive
LJUBLJANA - Ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina told a ceremony in Ljubljana that the unimaginable horrors and hardship of that time must not be forgotten. He also urged standing up to hatred and xenophobia. "Those images are embedded in our collective memory, our identity, and it is the duty of us all, in particular those whose voice is head in public, to make sure the memory doesn't fade," said Svetina. President Borut Pahor, who was also present, said young generations should be reminded where hatred lead, but not in a way as make them fear the future.
Cerar attends VIHRA ministerial
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Foreign Minister Miro Cerar attended a ministerial meeting of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) in Brussels ahead of 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp and International Holocaust Remembrance Day observed on 27 January. In his address, Cerar pledged Slovenia's continued commitment to preserving the awareness and historical records of the Holocaust, genocide against the Roma and persecution of other victims.
Ski Jumper Zajc makes podium in Titisee-Neustadt
TITISEE-NEUSTADT, Germany - Ski jumper Timi Zajc placed third in the World Cup event in Titisee-Neustadt, Germany, in what is his best result this season and the fourth season podium finish for Slovenia. Pole Dawid Kubacki was victorious for the second straight day, scoring 283.3 points, 0.3 points ahead of Japanese Ryoyu Kobayashi, who came in third at the same venue yesterday. Zajc mustered 271.6 points.
