Two largest parties on opposite sides regarding future moves
LJUBLJANA - All options remain open as Borut Pahor launched consultations with deputy group heads on the way forward following the resignation of PM Marjan Šarec. Danijel Krivec of the Democrats (SDS) said SDS president Janez Janša was the best candidate for prime minister, while Brane Golubović of the Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) called for a snap election. Pahor will host the remaining parties on Wednesday and Thursday, but the contours of a potential centre-right coalition led by Janša could start to emerge on Friday when talks will be hosted by the SDS leader. The small centre-left Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) has also not given up on its plan to organise a "project government".
Proponents of electoral changes hope to get 60th vote
LJUBLJANA - As the search is underway for the missing 60th vote to pass a bill to change electoral law, the details of the proposal were presented to the press. The changes, proposed in response to a Constitutional Court ruling, entail abolishing electoral districts and introducing a relative preferential vote, similarly to how members of the European Parliament are elected. To get elected with the relative preference vote, a candidate would have to win at least 4.5% of all votes won by the list on which they appear. The bill also says that neither sex should be represented by fewer than 40% of the candidates on the list, a rise of 5 percentage points from the existing legislation.
Adria's bankruptcy estate estimated at over EUR 6m
BRNIK - The bankruptcy estate of air carrier Adria Airways is worth EUR 6.23 million, of which EUR 3.15 million is the title to its office building at Ljubljana airport. Official receiver Janez Pustatičnik believes that due to its complexity, the receivership is unlikely to be completed before the end of 2024. The assets also include Adria's brand, the liquidation value of which is EUR 100,000, a flight simulator (EUR 93,000) and Adria's 100% stake in its flight school (EUR 133,500), according to an opening report by Pustatičnik. It is not yet know how much Adria owns creditors, since the deadline to report them has been extended until 2 March.
Koper port says coronavirus to affect business, no measures adopted yet
KOPER - Luka Koper, the operator of Slovenia's sole commercial port, has told the STA that the coronavirus situation is expected to affect transshipment volumes. Container cargo and vehicles are likely to be impacted the most, Luka Koper said, while explaining it had not yet received any instructions concerning potential health measures. It is the duty of the captain of a ship to report any health conditions before entering the port and the report is forwarded by the Maritime Administration to the National Institute of Public Health. The institute is also responsible for issuing instructions regarding any measures to the port.
Postal company stops accepting mail for China
LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian national postal operator has stopped accepting mail for China until further notice after its partner air carriers suspended flights to the country in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Until further notice, Pošta Slovenije will no longer accept letters and packages destined for China. Deliveries already on their way to China are expected to arrive with a delay, the company said. An exception to the suspension of the service applies to UPS packages.
Slovenian delegation fortifying business ties with Japan
TOKYO, Japan - A business delegation led by state secretary at the Economic Development and Technology Ministry Aleš Cantarutti is visiting Japan this week. They kicked off their trip with visits to Yaskawa Electric, Kansai Paint and Daihen on Monday. All three companies have already invested in Slovenia. Japanese investments have grown more than tenfold since 2013, reaching EUR 339.5 million in 2018, central bank data shows.
Cyclist Roglič, kayaker Terčelj win national sports prize
BRDO PRI KRANJU - Cyclist Primož Roglič, the winner of the Tour of Spain, and world champion kayaker Eva Terčelj were declared the winners of the Bloudek Prizes for sporting achievements, the highest national awards for current and lifetime success in sports. Roglič, 30, was honoured by the state for the first ever victory by a Slovenian in one of the top cycling races in the world, the Vuelta, last year. The same year he also finished third in the Giro d'Italia. Terčelj, 28, won the K1 event at the Whitewater World Championship in September 2019.
