Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Friday, 13 March 2020

By , 13 Mar 2020, 04:20 AM News
Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Friday, 13 March 2020 Abstract duck, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

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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:

Slovenia declares coronavirus epidemic

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia declared a coronavirus epidemic as the number of cases continued to surge with 96 persons confirmed to have fallen ill, almost double the number from the day before. A number of measures were taken to contain the spreading, from school closures to cancellations of virtually all public events, with additional measures announced. As infectious disease specialists issued an urgent appeal for public life to be brought to a standstill, the incoming Janez Janša government announced sweeping lockdown measures it plans to take immediately after assuming office late on Friday.

Govt forecaster slashes GDP growth projection to 1.5%

LJUBLJANA - IMAD, the government's macroeconomic forecaster, has halved its GDP growth forecast for the year to 1.5% from 3% due to the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The projection is made under the assumption that the situation will calm down in the second half of the year. "The forecast is very dependent on the speed with which the coronavirus will be contained and measures that governments take," IMAD said. The forecast for next year was cut to 2.2% from 2.7%.

Bill on subsidised wages for laid-off, quarantined workers adopted

LJUBLJANA - The government confirmed a bill providing subsidies to employers for wages paid out to employees on temporary lay-offs and in certain cases of self-quarantine resulting from the spreading of coronavirus in Slovenia. The state will aid employers who are not be able to provide work to at least 30% of their employees due to a decline in turnover. Employees will be eligible for 80% of pay. The state will subsidise 40% of this amount for workers on temporary lay-off, and the entire amount for quarantined workers. The bill will be fast-tracked at the National Assembly.

Počivalšek announces expansion of stimulus package

LJUBLJANA - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek announced an expansion of the stimulus package meant to mitigate the economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis. The crisis was in the focus of his hearing in parliament in which Počivalšek was endorsed by 10 votes to two to continue as minister in the forthcoming Janez Janša government. "Failing to preserve jobs would mean terrible problems. We have learned something from the 2008 crisis," said Počivalšek.

Slovenian benchmark suffers biggest daily drop ever

LJUBLJANA - The SBI TOP index on the Ljubljana Stock Exchange lost almost 9% to 753.70 points on Wednesday, the largest daily drop since it was launched in 2006, as major issues lost in excess of 10% on coronavirus concerns. Trading was brisk as total volumes exceeded EUR 6 million.

Slovenian officers to patrol Greek-Turkey border at least until May

ATHENS, Greece - Four Slovenian police officers started serving on the Greek-Turkey border as part of a 100-member Frontex rapid border intervention team which is helping Greece cope with the new migration wave. They will stay on the land border in the north-east of Greece at least until 6 May. The Interior Ministry told the STA that the Slovenian officers are seasoned experts with years of experience with operations at home as well as abroad. They have been part of a number of Frontex deployments in the past.

Vizjak to tackle waste, red tape and stalled investments

LJUBLJANA - Environment minister nominee Andrej Vizjak told the relevant parliamentary committee that the main problems that needed tackling were the piling up of waste, red tape and stalled investments in water infrastructure. Vizjak, who was endorsed by the relevant committee in a 12:6 vote after the hearing, also called for a balance between environmental protection and social and economic development. Vizjak had previously served as minister in two Janez Janša governments.

As infrastructure minister Vrtovec to bet on Green Deal

LJUBLJANA - Jernej Vrtovec set out a focus on the European Green Deal, carbon-free society and modernisation of rail infrastructure as his priorities as minister of infrastructure in his hearing in parliament. "The motto of my efforts will be Infrastructure on a Human Scale," the nominee, who comes from New Slovenia (NSi), told the Infrastructure Committee, adding that his plan was to make infrastructure user-friendly and accessible to people in urban and rural areas. He was endorsed by 11 votes in favour and seven against.

Ministerial nominee for rethink on life tenure of judges

LJUBLJANA - Justice minister nominee Lilijana Kozlovič advocates a rethink on abolishing the life tenure of judges. Her priorities as minister will be amending legislation on personal data protection and prevention of corruption, she told the parliamentary Justice Committee, which endorsed her by eight votes to four. Kozlovič, a Modern Centre Party (SMC) member currently heading the Environment Agency, also underscored the need for digitalisation of the judiciary.

Kustec pledges to boost trust in education system as minister

LJUBLJANA - Simona Kustec pledged to seek to enhance the reputation of, respect for and trust in the systems of education, science and sports as her priority as minister in her hearing on the relevant parliamentary committee, which endorsed her by 10 votes to six. Kustec, a Faculty of Social Sciences professor who served as MP for the Modern Centre Party (SMC) in the previous term, said she believed the system she would be in charge of was on "sound footing".

Bad bank inquiry releases interim report

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary inquiry looking into the transfer of loans from banks to the Bank Assets Management Company in the wake of the 2013 bank bailout submitted its interim report to the National Assembly. The report finds that asset transfer procedures had been partly opaque, involving several flaws, violations and suspected criminal offences, including direct and indirect pressure on key decision-makers. Some of those actions had financial and material consequences.

Patria defendant awarded damages for time spent in prison

LJUBLJANA - Broadcaster Nova24TV reported that retired brigadier general Tone Krkovič, one of the suspects in the Patria corruption trial who spent almost ten months in prison before the guilty verdict was overturned, had been awarded just over EUR 60,000 by a court for time spent in prison and the effect it had on his health. He and two other Patria defendants, incoming prime minister Janez Janša and businessman Ivan Crnkovič, were released from prison in April 2015 after the Constitutional Court overturned the guilty verdict.

Govt endorses bid for UNESCO listing of Lipizzan horses

LJUBLJANA - The government endorsed the bid for placing the Lipizzan horses on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The Culture Ministry said the Slovenian-led multinational bid includes Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Romania and Slovakia in line with a 2003 convention. The nomination is to be filed by 31 March 2020, so that the listing could take place in the 2020-2021 evaluation period.

Major sporting events and competitions in Slovenia cancelled

LJUBLJANA - Major sporting events were cancelled in Slovenia as a measure to contain the spreading of the new coronavirus. The Alpine Ski World Cup event, scheduled to take place in Kranjska Gora at the weekend, was cancelled, and the Ski Flying World Championships at Planica, scheduled for 19-22 March, postponed. The Football Association has suspended all games.

Visiting Ljubljana? Check out what's on this week, while all our stories on Slovenia, from newest to oldest, are here

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