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This summary is provided by the STA:
PM Šarec steps down, snap election likely
LJUBLJANA - PM Marjan Šarec announced his resignation, saying he could not achieve what he had set out to do with the current minority coalition. Coming only minutes after Finance Minister Andrej Bertoncelj's resignation, Šarec's announcement was a surprise to all coalition partners and the public. He called for a snap election, arguing people should get the chance to show whether they trust him or not. He indicated he had discussed cooperation for the election with the coalition Modern Centre Party (SMC), however its leader Zdravko Počivalšek said an early election was not necessary. The SMC is however one of only three small parliamentary parties not favouring an early election and Slovenians could head to the polls in April.
Analysts uncertain about developments after PM's resignation
LJUBLJANA - The government's relative inefficiency and PM Marjan Šarec's realising it would be very hard to secure a majority to appoint two new ministers after the defence and finance ministers have stepped down, are among the reasons for which Šarec resigned, pundits told the STA, noting it was now hard to predict the future course of developments. While an early election is an option, a new coalition could also not be entirely ruled out. Domovina news portal editor Rok Čakš said Šarec' move had not been entirely unexpected since he is the only one who could gain from an early election, but it had been harder to imagine he would trigger the process leading to an early election himself.
Slovenia prepared for outbreak of coronavirus
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's coordination group for monitoring and managing contagious diseases discussed the coronavirus outbreak in China today, announcing Slovenia was prepared for a potential outbreak. The country is monitoring the situation carefully and cooperating with all WHO member states in efforts to prevent the spreading of the virus. Mojca Gobec from the Health Ministry said it was very important to be ready "because we can expect imported cases". It is essential that the system contains the infection and reduces the risk of virus spreading to a minimum, she pointed out a press conference after today's meeting.
Employers want stability, unions say reforms will be delayed as Šarec resigns
LJUBLJANA - Representatives of employers are not very surprised by the resignation of Prime Minister Marjan Šarec, as they perceive the current situation as unpredictable and unstable, with a noticeable standstill in the implementation of major projects and structural reforms. Trade union representatives meanwhile said the stepping down meant a departure from the necessary reforms and measures in healthcare, long-term care and housing policy. They also understand that it was hard for the government to push reforms through due to the lack of support.
PM's party enhances lead in POP TV poll
LJUBLJANA - The Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) remains in the lead in the latest poll commissioned by the private broadcaster POP TV, having increased its margin ahead of the opposition Democrats (SDS) to one percentage point. The LMŠ gained two points compared to December to poll at 15.1% and the SDS added 1.4 points to 14.1%. The coalition Social Democrats (SD) and the opposition Left are tied in third place at 7.2% after the SD gained 0.5 points and the Left slipped back 1.7 points. The opposition New Slovenia (NSi) ranks fifth at 6.2%, up from 5.3% in December, followed by the coalition Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) at 4.1%. The other parties would not make it past the 4% parliamentary threshold. The voter approval rating for the government has also increased.
Builders oppose state opening doors to third-country bidders
LJUBLJANA - The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) protested against what it perceives as the state opening doors wide to builders from third countries. This brings disloyal competition to Slovenian companies and results in fewer jobs and lower wages for Slovenian workers. These companies come from countries that have different welfare and worker standards, said GZS boss Sonja Šmuc and wondered whether Slovenians would sit and watch if the state said it did not need Slovenian farmers as bread and milk could be imported from countries where people work for a few euros a day. "Foreigners ignoring the achievements of Slovenian social dialogue in public tenders getting deals financed with taxpayer money defies the fundamental economic and welfare logic," said Jože Renar of GZS.
Pahor and Slovenian survivors in Auschwitz for liberation anniversary
OSWIECIM, Poland/LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor attended a memorial marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi concentration camp, accompanied by Slovenian camp survivors. He lit a candle to honour the victims at a memorial plaque which has since 2008 featured an inscription in Slovenian. The delegation featured Sonja Vrščaj, Elizabeta Kumar Maurič, Marija Frlan and Lidija Rijavec Simčič, who were deported to the camp, as well as Janez Deželak, one of hundreds of stolen children, who were separated from their parents after Nazi occupation. Meanwhile, parliamentary Speaker Dejan Židan expressed concern over rising harsh attitudes around the world.
Business sentiment recovery continues
LJUBLJANA - Business sentiment in Slovenia stood at 4.1 percentage points in January, up 1.1 percentage points on December but eight percentage points below the January 2019 level. The second consecutive monthly increase comes after the sentiment index fell to 2.4 points in November, the lowest since late 2014, in what was the fourth consecutive month of decline. According to the figures released by the Statistics Office, confidence in manufacturing contributed 0.6 points to the monthly increase, in services 0.4 points, among consumers 0.3 points and in construction 0.1 points.
Construction of InnoRenew research institute launched
IZOLA - The InnoRenew Centre of Excellence, a research institute for renewable materials and healthy environment, has launched construction of its new facility on the university campus in the coastal town of Izola. The new two-building facility, to be completed in September 2021, will be unique in that it will a hybrid of wood, concrete and steel. The upper three storeys will be fully wooden, making it the biggest wooden building in Slovenia. InnoRenew, established in 2017 and launched in 2018, is one of only ten centres of excellence co-funded from the EU's Horizon 2020 programme. It has received EUR 15 million from the EU and another 30 million from the Slovenian state budget.
Govt endorses scholarship scheme for 2020-2024
LJUBLJANA - The government endorsed at a correspondence session a scholarship scheme for the next five-year period, providing some EUR 1.23 million for scholarship for shortage occupations a year, the same as so far. The list of shortage occupations remains more or less the same as in the 2015-2019 policy. Most shortage occupations remain those requiring secondary education. While some programmes such as carpenter, toolmaker and mechatronic engineer have become more popular with the young since 2015, others such as chimney sweep and body shop mechanics remain less popular regardless of the scholarship.
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