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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:
First case of coronavirus infection confirmed in Slovenia
LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Marjan Šarec announced on Twitter in the evening that the first infection with the novel coronavirus had been confirmed in Slovenia, with Health Minister Aleš Šabeder subsequently addressing the press, saying that the infected person had come to Slovenia from Morocco via Italy. The person is being treated at the infection ward of the UKC Ljubljana hospital, while the National Public Health Institute (NIJZ) is working on identifying the persons who have been in contact with the infected individual. The person visited their general practitioner today, who referred them to the infection ward due to noticeable signs of infection. The government will discuss the situation at its regular session on Thursday.
SDS-promoted conscription reintroduction looking unlikely
LJUBLJANA - Most parliamentary factions seemed opposed to a proposal that would reintroduce compulsory military service in Slovenia. The bill might thus be defeated at first reading in Thursday's vote since only the Democrats (SDS), which tabled the bill in January, the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) and National Party (SNS) believe it has a future. Two of the new coalition's parties - the Modern Centre Party (SMC) and New Slovenia (NSi) - voiced serious reservations. Should the motion succeed nonetheless, it will face a referendum, which has been announced by the Left.
SMC deputy group leader slated for speaker post
LJUBLJANA - Igor Zorčič, the deputy group leader of the Modern Centre Party (SMC), was formally nominated for speaker of parliament a day after Janez Janša received the mandate to form a centre-right government. SMC leader Zdravko Počivalšek said Zorčič, a lawyer who was first elected to parliament in 2014, would lead the National Assembly "with the right degree of determination and a great deal of patience". He will succeed Social Democrat (SD) leader Dejan Židan, who stepped down as soon as Janša was elected PM.
Slovenia sending 35 police officers to Greece to help seal border
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia is deploying 35 police officers as part of a Frontex rapid border intervention team sent to Greece to help the country deal with an increased influx of migrants after Turkey recently decided to open its border with Greece, said Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar as he attended an informal EU ministerial. After today's meeting, called due to the emergency situation at the Greece-Turkey border, Poklukar highlighted that the police officers were already preparing for the task. He said that the EU's reaction to the developments had been very rapid compared to the 2015 crisis. Greece has been handling the situation well so far, he added.
Slovenian councillor in Italy positive for COVID-19
KOPER - Igor Gabrovec, an ethic Slovenian who is a member of the regional legislative assembly of Friuli Venezia Giulia in Italy, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Gabrovec said he was feeling fine and that he had requested the testing himself after recently returning from holiday through the Treviso airport. Gabrovec, a councillor of the party Slovenian Community, was admitted to a hospital for observation yesterday and will remain in isolation.
Businesses urge measures in response to coronavirus fallout
LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Employers' Association urged the Economy Ministry to take measures in response to the growing impact of the coronavirus outbreak on business, which it says has begun to affect all industries. Revoz, the Slovenian subsidiary of the French car maker Renault, said it has temporarily suspended production due to irregular supply of car parts that is partly blamed on the coronavirus outbreak in China. Also, Slovenia's biggest boat show, Internautica, which was to be held in the port of Trieste in May, has been cancelled due to the virus. On the other hand, tourism officials in the regions bordering Italy said they are not yet reporting a decline in visitors from Italy, a major market for Slovenian tourism.
Police find 30 foreigners hiding in train carrying clay
DOBOVA - Slovenian police officers discovered at the Dobova border crossing on Tuesday 30 citizens of Iraq, Syria, Iran and Afghanistan hiding in sealed wagons of a train carrying clay, as they attempted to enter Slovenia. The train with 20 wagons loaded with clay was coming to Slovenia from Serbia, the Novo Mesto Police Department said. The foreigners, including 12 children aged between five and fourteen as well as a woman in a late stage of pregnancy, were literally buried in clay as they tried to avoid being detected by border police, which could have been fatal.
Jobless total down again in February
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's Employment Service registered 77,484 unemployed people in February, 3% fewer than the month before and 4.1% fewer than in February 2019. A total of 5,172 were registered as freshly out of a job in February. This is 54% fewer than the month before and 0.1% more than a year ago. Of the freshly unemployed, the bulk (2,633) saw their fixed-term job contracts expire. The latest available statistics show the registered unemployment rate was at 7.7% in December, 0.4 percentage points lower than in December 2018.
Metrology company wins Business Excellence Award
LJUBLJANA - Lotrič Meroslovje is the winner of this year's Business Excellence Award conferred by the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology and the SPIRIT agency. The metrology company was also given at the award ceremony the certificate promoting the EFQM European model of excellence for the next three years. This is the second Business Excellence Award for the company based in Selca, east of Kranj, with the first coming in 2012. The ceremony was attended by Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, who said that business excellence should be put in the spotlight, as it was a foundation for competitiveness.
Hydro plant operator wants damages from state over scrapped Mura plant
MARIBOR - Hydro power plant operator Dravske elektrarne Maribor (DEM) is claiming EUR 6.5 million in damages from the state after the government suspended the construction of a hydroelectric power plant on the river Mura in the east in the face strong opposition by locals and environmentalists. DEM told the STA that it had so far invested about EUR 9.2 million in plans for the Mura. In case that the government also decides to strip DEM of its concession right to build hydro power plants on the Mura, the damage claim will be increased so as to include all other costs.
Major tax debtor sentenced to six years and a half in prison
LJUBLJANA - Zlatan Kudić, one of Slovenia's biggest tax debtors, was sentenced to six years and a half in prison by the Ljubljana District Court after he pleaded guilty to tax evasion and money laundering, web portals 24ur and Slovenske Novice have reported. The former director of Maxicon, which went bust in 2012, went into hiding during the trial, which started in 2013. After some three months, the fugitive was apprehended, reportedly in Ljubljana. The Financial Administration (FURS) should not hold out much hope of recovering EUR 25 million in debt owed by Kudić, said TV Slovenija when he was apprehended, since Maxicon was erased from the list of debtors upon going bankrupt.
Statement about "excessive emancipation" declared most sexist of 2019
LJUBLJANA - Actor Bojan Emeršič has won the Silver Thistle for the most sexist statement of 2019 with a statement he made the daily Delo. "I don't like the excessive emancipation of the last 15 years, women fighting for your rights, which you already have. This affects erotics, which is not right, because men and women are different. Man has always been a hunter but is now losing his primary role," he said. Also among the nominees this year was President Borut Pahor, who won the award in 2016. The Silver Thistle was conferred on Tuesday evening by web portal Spol.si and the organisers of the feminist and queer festival Red Dawns.
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