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This summary is provided by the STA:
Covid cases climb to highest total in more than nine months
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia logged 2,270 coronavirus infections on Friday in what is a near ten-month high. The test positivity rate stood at 30.2%, show data by the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ). The seven-day average of new cases has increased by 121 to 1,550 and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 population has climbed to 825, up by 66. Hospitalisations were at 455 this morning, up by 15 on the day before, with 120 patients requiring intensive care, same as yesterday, government data show. Another seven people with Covid died.
Home Policy Committee votes down motion for snap election
LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Home Policy Committee voted down late on Friday evening a motion by the centre-left opposition calling for a snap election. During an emergency session of the committee, which lasted for more than nine hours, centre-left opposition MPs accused the government of creating a state of emergency in the country, criticising what they see as rule by decree and politicisation and militarisation of police. The government dismissed all the allegations, saying that its potential resignation could significantly weaken Slovenia's ability to contain the spread of the coronavirus and uphold national security.
Ministry bought Oshkosh APCs prior to anti-graft watchdog's decision, says report
LJUBLJANA - The Defence Ministry asked the anti-graft watchdog for permission not to include an anti-corruption clause in contracts for a purchase of Oshkosh armoured personnel carriers (APCs) from the US and a purchase of a transport aircraft from Italy. In the first case, the ministry did not wait for the watchdog's decision, as it had signed the agreement and paid for the APCs before receiving a reply, Delo said, while in the second case, the request was denied. The ministry told the STA that it had been notified of the watchdog's decision that the clause is optional in the Oshkosh case prior to signing the deal.
Pahor says president does not decide fate of govt
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor told the news portal N1 that in his capacity as president he had neither the right nor the competence nor the duty to say that enough is enough in the current tense situation. The president does not have the power to decide on the fate of the government, he noted. Restoring trust in dialogue and cooperation is a solution for the current circumstances, he pointed out, adding that there was a lack of both on both sides of the political spectrum. He disagrees with the government on the issues of the STA funding and appointment of European delegated prosecutors.
Počivalšek says early election unlikely
LJUBLJANA - The leader of the coalition Modern Centre Party (SMC) and Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek believes that the next election will be held as scheduled. Speaking to the newspaper Večer, he does not completely rule out the possibility of an early election though, but also notes that a snap election would not suit his party at the moment as the SMC is in the process of restructuring, forging ties and forming a coalition for the next election. Following PM Janez Janša's hints of a possible lockdown, Počivalšek stated that there would be no more closures of the economy due to Covid-19.
