New army chief vows to work toward improving staffing and material resources
LJUBLJANA - Brigadier Robert Glavaš pledged to work to secure the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) staffing and material resources as he formally took over as the chief of the general staff by accepting the SAF battle standard from his predecessor. Glavaš said he was aware financial sources would be limited during the coronavirus epidemic and potential economic slowdown coming in its wake. However, he is optimistic with plenty of work in other areas, such as attracting new staff. Defence Minister Tonin said that during the past month, when Glavaš served as interim chief of the general staff, he proved himself as a conscientious and exceptionally professional soldier who understood the SAF's needs and challenges.
Latest estimates value second stimulus package at EUR 2.8bn
LJUBLJANA - Coming out of a coordination meeting for the emerging new coronavirus emergency package, coalition members explained the current total value of the envisaged measures, focusing on securing liquidity for businesses, was EUR 2.8 billion. Reports on the liquidity measures, coming after a EUR 3 billion stimulus package seeking to prevent job loss and protect vulnerable groups, so far mentioned EUR 900 million to be given at the disposal of companies in the form of loans, guarantees and guarantee schemes. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) spoke of EUR 2 billion in one statement. A third stimulation package was also announced.
String of stores and services reopen as lockdown eases
LJUBLJANA - In a major sign of the easing of the coronavirus epidemic and the lockdown restrictions associated with it, a string of retail and services establishments shut down five weeks ago reopened. DIY stores, car showrooms, stores selling bicycles, technical goods and furniture, dry cleaners and some repair shops, including tyre replacement shops resumed operations. The government also allowed the reopening of services performed outdoors such as gardening services, roof and facade work, and food takeaways involving minimum contact with customers. Three more Covid-19 patients died in Slovenia on Sunday, bringing the official death toll to 77. Only five new coronavirus cases were confirmed, raising the tally to 1,335.
Opposition wants top court review of expanded police powers
LJUBLJANA - Four opposition parties announced they would seek a constitutional review of two articles from the first coronavirus emergency package, including one expanding police powers, as well as of the decree limiting movement to municipal borders. The Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), the Left, SocDems and Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) primarily took issue with Article 103 of the emergency act which grants the police additional powers, most of them arguing the duration of the measures was too vague. They moreover want a debate on issues and potential conflict of interest in the procurement of PPE.
Employers request state subsidies for over 262,000 workers
LJUBLJANA - The Employment Service has so far received more than 32,000 applications for more than 262,000 employees under the legislation providing state subsidies for wages and social security contributions for workers temporary laid-off or quarantined due to the coronavirus epidemic. The final figure could by up to 10% lower, as some employers filed multiple applications until Sunday, the service said, noting that the rise in the number of new applications had started slowing down today. The subsidies are provided under the emergency law which entered into force on 29 March and the coronavirus stimulus package designed to aid the economy and individuals, which entered into force on 11 April.
Rise in unemployment slowing down
LJUBLJANA - Interim data by the Employment Service show that the coronavirus crisis continues to strongly affect the employment situation, albeit not as severely as in the first weeks. While the registered unemployment total rose by 7,955 between 1 and 17 April to 85,810, the figure for last week was 2,029. Last week, which had one business day less due to Easter, saw between 500 to 800 registering on a daily basis, a marked decreased on the week before, when the daily number mostly exceed 1,000. The total figures were 2,742 and 4,663 respectively, data show.
Government has helped bring 800 Slovenians home
LJUBLJANA - Since a crisis task force was set up at the Foreign Ministry in mid-February to help Slovenians stranded across the world get home amid travel restrictions imposed due to coronavirus, it has helped repatriate 800 citizens. A further 1,500 found their own way back home with the government's help themselves. The latest figures were revealed by the government spokesman Jelko Kacin at the daily coronavirus briefing. There are still at least 500 Slovenian citizens scattered around the world who have turned to the ministry for help, and many who have not contacted the Slovenian authorities, he said.
Fines issued due to lockdown violations totalling EUR 32,000
LJUBLJANA - The Health Inspectorate launched more than 2,900 procedures and issued fines worth more than EUR 32,000 to people breaking the restrictions in place to slow down the coronavirus epidemic in Slovenia. It received over 110 reports of suspected violations directly from individuals and many more from the police. During the epidemic, the inspectorate is the only authority that may initiate procedures and issue fines for violations of movement restrictions and the gathering ban. The cases processed so far have been mostly referred to the inspectorate by the police and involved individuals. Almost 300 fines have been issued, totalling more than EUR 32,000.
Unions say govt attitude to social dialogue in crisis unacceptable
LJUBLJANA - Trade unions have reiterated their call to the government to include them in the drawing up of the new round of emergency measures and urged the immediate launch of social dialogue through the Economic and Social Council, arguing that they had been sidetracked during the creation of the pending second package. While the Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Ministry took a position on some of the proposals, the unions did not receive any of the documentation drawn up by the ministry. No meeting took place with either private or public sector trade union confederations. The Finance Ministry said that the government had been "leading an open dialogue with a number of stakeholders".
Revoz, Lek, Krka and Gorenje remain top exporters
LJUBLJANA - Revoz, the Slovenian subsidiary of the French car maker Renault, continues to top the Delo list of Slovenia's largest exporters, followed by pharmaceutical companies Lek and Krka, and the household appliances maker Gorenje, the only four companies whose exports exceeded a billion euro in 2019. Revoz recorded exports of EUR 1.77 billion, followed by Lek with EUR 1.48 billion and Krka with EUR 1.4 billion. Gorenje was at EUR 1.12 billion.
Pahor continues to send encouraging messages to European nations
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor expressed solidarity with the German people in a video message on Twitter after posting encouraging messages for the Italian and British people, and expressing solidarity with several other European countries. Pahor also discussed the coronavirus situation with Czech President Miloš Zeman over the phone today. Pahor has so far expressed solidarity with several countries fighting coronavirus, including Spain, Croatia, the Czech Republic, the UK and Italy.
Slovenian minority in Hungary donates 2,000 protective masks
HODOŠ - The Slovenian minority in Hungary presented Minster for Slovenians Abroad Helena Jaklitsch with 2,000 home-made protective face masks. Jaklitsch said the donation was an extraordinarily lovely gesture, indicative of the ties among Slovenians on both sides of the border. The community is however not happy with the closure of border crossings, leaving relatives stranded on either side. Jaklitsch said that reopening was Hungary's decision but that Slovenia would support the minority in efforts to reopen it.
NGO calls for environmentally sustainable economic revival
LJUBLJANA - NGOs believe that economic revival after the coronavirus crisis should be environmentally sustainable, so investment into energy efficiency and renewable energy sources is crucial. They believe countries should use EU funds for funding of environmental projects. "The best way to boost economic recovery is by using EU budget, so member states must focus more on environmental measures," NGOs said on Monday, when a report was presented assessing EU investments in energy infrastructure in 2014-2020. According to NGO Focus, long-term investment into clear energy infrastructure is needed if Slovenia is to become climate neutral. Both public and private investment is essential, it added.
Emergency law on culling of bears, wolves repealed
LJUBLJANA - The Constitutional Court repealed an emergency law ordering the culling of brown bear and wolf populations which was to remain valid until late September. The court has ruled that the law is in violation of Article 3 of the Constitution, which refers to the separation of powers between the three branches of government. Based on that, it did not rule on the substance of the law, said Alpe Adria Green, an environmental NGO. Even though the cull determined by the law has already been carried out, the decision may prevent the adoption of emerging amendments that would increase the cull quota for this year.
SDS consolidates lead, LMŠ loses ground in latest Vox Populi poll
LJUBLJANA/MARIBOR - The party of Prime Minister Janez Janša (SDS) persisted at the top of the ratings in the latest Vox Populi poll, while the Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) suffered a deep slump. The government's performance was rated successful by 65% of respondents. If a general election had been held last Sunday, the Democrats (SDS) would have gotten 22.5%, slightly less than the month before but still enough to secure 34 seats in parliament, shows the poll, conducted by Ninamedia for the newspapers Dnevnik and Večer. LMŠ, the biggest opposition party, slipped back to 9.8% compared to more than 19% in January and 15% in March, followed closely by the Social Democrats (SD, almost 9%). The opposition Left trails in fourth at some 6%, polling similarly as the previous month.
