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This summary is provided by the STA:
IMF forecasts 8% GDP drop for Slovenia in 2020
WASHINGTON, US - The IMF forecast Slovenia's gross domestic product (GDP) to shrink by 8% this year compared to 2019 as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic, while a rebound of 5.4% is expected in 2021. The forecast for Slovenia in the latest World Economic Outlook report is a drastic downgrade compared to the projection from last autumn, when Slovenia was forecast to record 2.9% GDP growth this year. The country's annual inflation now was projected to hit 0.4% this year and 1.4% next year, with the survey unemployment rate expected to increase to 9% this year and drop to 6% in 2021.
First easing of lockdown expected next week
LJUBLJANA - There had been indications Slovenia may start relaxing lockdown measures this week, but the government's chief medical advisor for the coronavirus epidemic said the easing would not start before next week. Bojana Beović, who heads the Health Ministry's medical task force for coronavirus, said the easing would depend on when the health authorities determined the epidemic was tailing off. While data on new infections over the Easter weekend is encouraging, it is too early to say whether the epidemic is "being gradually extinguished", she said. One more death related to the coronavirus epidemic was recorded on Monday, bringing the overall death toll to 56. Only eight new cases were recorded yesterday for a nationwide total of 1,220.
Majority of Covid-19 victims aged over 75
LJUBLJANA - The figures released by the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) show that more than 80% of people who died of coronavirus in Slovenia were older than 75 years and almost 60% were older than 85. Although 56 persons died until Monday, the NIJZ statistics take into account only 53 deaths because the institute gets the data with a delay. All the deceased were older than 45, but the number of deaths rose with age; the number of deaths in the age group between 75 and 84 was 13 and that in the age group of over 85 reached 31. Public broadcaster Radio Slovenija meanwhile reported that as many as 75% of all the 56 victims had died in nursing homes.
Govt letter on journalism to CoE debated in parliament
LJUBLJANA - A contentious letter sent by the government to the Council of Europe (CoE) to claim the majority of the main media in Slovenia stem from the Communist regime was defended by Foreign Minister Anže Logar in parliament as it was discussed by the foreign policy and culture committees. The letter was a response to an alert issued by the CoE Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists after PM Janez Janša tweeted that the public broadcaster was misleading the public and indicated that some of its staff should lose their jobs. While denying the letter was a dispatch, Logar indicated he agreed with its content. Since he left after making his point due to previous engagements, the session was suspended until he could attend it. The opposition said the letter served as a settling of scores in domestic politics and an attack on journalists.
Govt migration crisis spokesperson back to Interior Ministry
MARIBOR - Boštjan Šefic, the former Interior Ministry state secretary best known for providing government briefings during the 2015-16 migration crisis under the Miro Cerar government, returned to the Interior Ministry last Friday to work on changes to asylum law, the newspaper Večer reported. Interior Minister Aleš Hojs indicated the coalition could tighten asylum legislation, including by taking into account some of the Cerar government's proposals and the European Court of Human Rights's ruling that migrants who do not enter the country lawfully could be turned back. Šefic returned to the Interior Ministry from the Defence Ministry, and had previously long worked for SOVA, the national intelligence and security agency.
Report: New fence erected on southern border
LJUBLJANA - New fence is being erected on Slovenia's southern border, according to the newspaper Delo. As part of a EUR 4.5 million deal won by the Serbian company Legi SGS last year, 40 kilometres of fence will be put up in the municipalities of Kočevje and Kostel, and in the western Primorska region. The government does not reveal the locations where the new fence will be set up, but according to Delo, 10 kilometres of fence will be erected in the municipalities of Kočevje and Kostel. Fencing has also been erected in southern Primorska. Croatia's local newspaper Glas Istre reported that the Slovenian authorities had put up a metal gate in the middle of Mlini in Istria.
Delo poll shows majority support broader army powers
LJUBLJANA - Over 57% of Slovenians support the government's plans to give the army additional powers to patrol the border with Croatia, showed a poll carried by the newspaper Delo. Just under 26% expressed opposition to the plan, and some 16% were undecided. Asked about whether they trusted the government to consistently uphold democratic standards, 42% said they trusted it to do that, with 37% expressing distrust and just under a fifth were undecided.
Corona-survey shows fewer people worried about their lives
LJUBLJANA - The share of the Slovenians who are worried about their lives because of the coronavirus epidemic is dropping, showed the latest survey by the pollster Mediana, as it currently stands at 50%. Some 42% of the respondents said they were worried and 8% that they were very worried, a drop of 10 percentage points compared to the previous poll from the end of March. 68% of the respondents meanwhile believe it will take three or more months for life in Slovenia to return to normal after the epidemic.
Corona deals could become subject of parliamentary inquiry
LJUBLJANA - Three opposition parties intend to seek a parliamentary inquiry into the government's ordering of personal protective gear worth millions of euro in the coronavirus epidemic. The Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), the Left and the Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) all want an inquiry, but another seven votes are needed to launch it. The eleven-strong deputy group of the Social Democrats (SD) is expected to discuss its position on Wednesday. Meanwhile, National Party (SNS) leader Zmago Jelinčič said it was too early to take a position. He believes a fortnight is needed for things to become more clear, while the moves made now are nothing but vexatious acting-out.
Minister unable to say when schools could reopen
LJUBLJANA - Education Minister Simona Kustec, who participated in a videocall EU ministerial, is not yet able to say when kindergartens and school in Slovenia could reopen. The decision will be made based on an expert assessment that this could be done safely, she explained. However, she announced the decision on whether to hold nation-wide primary school exams for sixth and ninth grade primary school students would be taken this Friday. A decision in favour of holding the secondary school-leaving exams had already been made, although the exams will probably take place later than originally scheduled, meaning not before June.
Slovenian tourism sector expects sharp contraction
LJUBLJANA - Tourism is among the industries hit particularly hard by coronavirus. The Slovenian Tourist Board (STO) expects the sector to see a 60-70% contraction this year if the relaxation of lockdown measures starts in June. If the restrictions last longer, the contraction is expected to be even sharper, STO director Maja Pak told the STA. After the decline, the recovery is expected to be long. Pak expects it will take several years. Tanja Mihalič, a Ljubljana School of Business and Economics professor who specialises in tourism, believes it may take until 2023 or 2024 before Slovenia returns to last year's levels.
More companies gradually resuming operations
LJUBLJANA - Companies which have suspended their production due to the coronavirus epidemic are gradually restarting operations and joining those that have only partly shut down or have not closed shop at all. At household appliances maker Gorenje, the plant producing washers and dryers started its operations last Friday and other production lines in Velenje restarted today. Sports goods maker Elan sent more than half of its employees back to work. Several other companies have announced the stoppage will last at least another week.
Applications come in for aid from first stimulus package
LJUBLJANA - Businesses and individuals eligible for state aid under a EUR 3 billion fiscal stimulus package have started filing their requests after the package entered into force on Saturday. The Employment Service has received 1,154 applications for pay subsidies from companies with idle employees. Before the stimulus package came into force, companies had been filing requests for aid under a less favourable emergency which had been applicable since 29 March. Unofficially, 8,441 such requests had been filed. All applications will be processed under the new law, which has the state cover in full pay to idle workers equalling 80% of their normal pay.
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