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This summary is provided by the STA:
LMŠ announces motion of no-confidence in economy minister
LJUBLJANA - The opposition Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) plans to initiate a vote of no-confidence in Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek over his role in the purchases of protective personal equipment. "We were constructive at the beginning of this government's term, but we were played. After the latest events it is clear that we will file a motion of no-confidence," LMŠ leader Marjan Šarec announced on Twitter. However, it seems like the no-confidence vote will not get the needed support from other opposition parties. The only party to have expressed support to it is the Left. Počivalšek responded with a tweet saying he saw the upcoming debate in parliament as an opportunity to "lay out all the evidence", including about how the Šarec government had handled the crisis.
PM warns of grave political consequences of insufficient solidarity
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Prime Minister Janez Janša warned after the EU summit that grave political consequences may occur in the absence of sufficient solidarity. He voiced support for the EU Commission submitting a new multi-year financial framework whose structure and scope should be commensurate to the challenges of the Covid-19 crisis. Janša also endorsed a set of proposals agreed at an Eurogroup meeting on 9 April. But it remains questionable whether these proposals will suffice for the needs of those most badly hit by the pandemic. "If there is insufficient solidarity in action, grave political consequences may occur," he said.
Minister announces expansion of border fence
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia plans to intensify the construction of fencing on the border with Croatia and expand the use of other technical means to control the border and prevent illegal migrations, Interior Minister Aleš Hojs told the weekly Demokracija. "The only way to seal the border is with a fence along its entire length, appropriate technical surveillance and the army or police along it. Only Israel has such a well protected border. We'll probably never have such a level [of protection], but we'll nevertheless do everything so that the border is protected as best as possible," he said.
Mayors of border municipalities urge deployment of army on border
LJUBLJANA - Mayors of 23 border municipalities have called on the National Assembly to back the activation of an emergency clause that grants soldiers limited police powers to patrol the border, citing a likely mass spread of Covid-19 among migrants as the main reason. The mayors argue the army "is the only institution left with a sufficient number of equipped and trained staff to protect the southern border". They fear a larger number of infected persons could enter Slovenia, since the virus is already present among migrants and a major spread among them will be impossible to prevent given their accommodation situation in Europe and Turkey.
Slovenian, Croatian ministers to discuss tourism next week
LJUBLJANA/ZAGREB, Croatia - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek and Croatian Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli will meet next week to discuss measures to support the tourist sector in the face of the coronavirus epidemic, the Economy Ministry told the STA. Cappelli told Croatian media the pair would also discuss the potential revival of cross-border travel. Cappelli told the Croatian broadcaster N1 that he would meet Počivalšek next week on the Croatian-Slovenian border or even in Croatia. He said they would discuss technical solutions to allow tourists to cross the border.
Drop in orders pushes Hisense into massive layoffs, unions up in arms
LJUBLJANA/VELENJE - Hisense Europe has confirmed it plans extensive layoffs across the group as a major drop in orders amid the Covid-19 pandemic has pushed it into the red. Trade unions and the local community are shocked that as many as 2,200 jobs will be slashed by the end of 2020, of which 1,000 in Slovenia. Around 700 production jobs will be slashed at Gorenje in Velenje and another 300 other jobs at Hisense Gorenje Europe in Ljubljana with soft methods, such as retirement as well as disinvestment.
Constitutional Court expects to deal with corona measures for years
LJUBLJANA - Constitutional Court president Rajko Knez has assessed that the country's top court will be dealing with appeals related to the anti-corona measures for years, although they are being treated as a matter of absolute priority. In an interview for the newspaper Delo, Knez noted that the court had received in recent days more than 50 appeals related to the financial and economic consequences of the first economic stimulus package, passed in early April. Earlier, the court was receiving requests for constitutional review of the measure restricting movement to the municipal borders and expansion of police powers, with their current number being more than ten.
Confirmed Covid-19 cases up by 13, no new deaths reported
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia had 1,366 confirmed Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, up by 13 on the day before, with the number of fatalities unchanged at 79, shows the latest government data. The figures indicate the coronavirus epidemic is tailing off, which is also evident from the number of people in hospital. A total of 80 persons were in hospital for Covid-19, two fewer than the day before and significantly below the end-March peak of 119. Of these, 23 were in intensive care, down from 24.
Ex-president says govt efficient in Covid-19 efforts, worried about democracy
LJUBLJANA - Former President Milan Kučan said in an interview for the weekly Nedeljski Dnevnik that the government's measures to fight the epidemic were adequate, but he is worried some of them could affect democracy. Slovenia was in a way lucky not to hold an election after the Marjan Šarec government collapsed at the end of January. He believes the Janez Janša government is "relatively efficient" in dealing with the epidemic, deeming its work responsible and measures adequate. However, he expects it to provide accurate information, speak calmly and most of all, give solid arguments to justify the harsh measures.
Pahor extends solidarity message over Covid-19 to Hungary
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor continues sending solidarity messages to other European countries in the face of the coronavirus epidemic. The latest recipient of his supportive video clips has been Hungary. He conveyed his support in the Hungarian language and expressed his admiration for the Hungarian people, who are showing determination, courage and hope in these difficult times. Meanwhile, Spanish King Felipe VI has thanked the president for his encouraging words.
Ambassadors thanking key workers in Slovenia amid epidemic
LJUBLJANA - Ambassadors to Slovenia have expressed gratitude to Slovenian healthcare workers and others fighting the Covid-19 epidemic on the front lines as well as the public for their efforts during these challenging times in a video message released online. The participating embassies included those representing Austria, Brazil, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Italy, Japan, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the US, the UK and the EU Commission.
MPs call for reorganisation in nursing homes due to Covid-19
LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Health Committee concluded late on Wednesday a two-day debate on the situation in nursing homes, rejecting all recommendations from the opposition Left. Yesterday's debate revolved around the possibility of reorganising the work in nursing homes, with the coalition saying that some changes were already being made. The situation in nursing homes has become complex in the face of the Covid-19 epidemic, and the session, requested by the Left, heard on the first day demands from trade unions and care home organisations for more staff to be provided.
Ljutomer home Covid-19 patients staying put
LJUTOMER - The Covid-19 positive residents of the Ljutomer nursing home, one of the hotspots of the epidemic in Slovenia, will not be moved from the home, Health Minister Tomaž Gantar said, after abandoning a planned move to the Ptuj hospital, where the staff opposed the hospitalisation of patients who do not require hospital treatment. Gantar said it would be best for residents if a move could be avoided while the home is being cleaned, disinfected and contagion zones established. "If this can be done without the move, I will be happy and residents will be happy," he said.
Govt proposing deregulation to speed up infrastructure investment
LJUBLJANA - Environment and Spatial Planning Minister Andrej Vizjak announced a deregulation of construction legislation that he argues will substantially speed up construction in this crucial period. "Every month of delayed investment in construction is a month lost and reduces budget revenue," he told the press. Vizjak, who explained the proposed changes have been incorporated into the amendments of the first coronavirus crisis stimulus package, pointed to the pending recession. The changes "allow immediate launch of certain investments that are on hold now", he added.
Slovenia again extends passenger flight ban
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian air traffic is to remain severely restricted as the government yet again extended a ban on passenger flights that was already prolonged twice, first in late March and then early April. The previous ban suspending flights within the EU until 27 April has been extended for two weeks. The ban was first introduced on 17 March to help contain the Covid-19 spread. In line with the EU law, the government then extended it on 30 March for a period of two weeks. On 10 April, the restriction was again prolonged, with flights within the EU suspended until 27 April and the rest banned until further notice.
More than 5,000 companies requested loan payment deferral so far
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian banks received just over 5,000 requests for deferral of loan payments from companies struggling with the consequences of the coronavirus epidemic by 10 April, data from the central bank show. Nearly 7,000 such requests have been made by individuals, Banka Slovenije told the STA. Banks said they had adopted proactive approaches to addressing clients' problems and that solutions were being sought on a case-by-case basis. They did however not reveal concrete numbers, which they are obligated to report to the Slovenian central bank Banka Slovenije.
Most players welcome draft corona legislation, but still see problems
LJUBLJANA - A number of organisations have welcomed changes to the first and the draft second stimulus package aimed to mitigate the consequences of the coronavirus epidemic. However, they also expressed criticism and made improvement recommendations. Trade unions fear a wave of layoffs is coming, but are mostly happy with the measures planned.
Slovenia experiencing extended dry spell
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia has seen below average precipitation across the country this year and according to Andreja Sušnik of the Environment Agency "we can already speak of a drought meteorologically". Grassland is presently affected the worst, while the impact will also be visible in other non-irrigated cultures. Sušnik said the topsoil is dried up as a result of a lack of precipitation, while the situation has been aggravated further by the occasional above-average temperatures and frequent winds. The last major precipitation period was in December.
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