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This summary is provided by the STA:
Five opposition factions seek to oust environment minister
LJUBLJANA - The five centre-left deputy groups in parliament tabled a motion of no confidence in Environment Minister Andrej Vizjak in the wake of release of a leaked recording in which he is heard trading favours with the boss of a spa company in his previous capacity as economy minister. The parties also accuse the minister of being responsible for the harmful waters act which was overwhelmingly rejected in the July referendum, arguing he puts interests of profit before public interests. Vizjak denied the charges, but said he was looking forward to the opportunity to put the record straight over what he repeated was a montaged recording. He described the motion as a construct and continuation of the opposition's political fight against his work.
Over 3,000 coronavirus cases logged for Tuesday
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia reported another 3,166 coronavirus cases on Tuesday, the highest daily figure since 5 January, as 38% of the PCR tests came back positive. Nine more Covid-19 patients died as hospitalisations rose to 526 and intensive care cases to 133, government figures show. The National Institute of Public Health estimates there are now over 22,000 active cases in the country. as calculations by the Jožef Stefan Institute put the reproduction number at about 1.4.
Partial lockdown warning as Slovenia's Covid situation worsens
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's epidemiological status is poor as the country's heads towards the worst situation since the start of the epidemic, said Health Minister Janez Poklukar, adding that if the trend is not reversed, he would propose at least a partial lockdown. This means that the number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care rises to 160-180, the minister said, announcing that some Covid restrictions were being stepped up. Regular coronavirus testing in all hospitals and social care institutions will be put in place, and employees who have not been vaccinated or have not recovered from Covid-19 will have to get tested every 48 hours, whereas students will be tested twice a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Janša meeting Michel over EU presidency dossiers
BRUSSELS, Belgium - PM Janez Janša is meeting European Council President Charles Michel in Brussels over working dinner this evening to discuss key dossiers of the Slovenian presidency of the Council of the EU, as well as energy prices, migration, the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership. The PM's office said Janša and Michel will talk about the developments in the presidency's priority areas and goals and about potential progress on individual dossiers until the end of Slovenia's presidency.
Pahor calls for trusting science in UN debate
NEW YORK, US - President Borut Pahor took part in a UN high-level remote debate on climate change on Tuesday, ahead of the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow. In his address, Pahor stressed the importance of trust in science and the need to increase funding for climate change mitigation. "We need to trust science more than ever," Pahor said in describing the latest IPCC report as a wake-up call. "We can meet the temperature target, but we need to act faster," he said.
Janša ordered to pay damages to SocDems over party HQ claim
VELENJE/LJUBLJANA - The opposition Social Democrats (SD) announced that the Velenje Local Court had upheld their EUR 10,000 damages claim against Prime Minister Janez Janša for claiming the party was headquartered in a "stolen Jewish villa". In a default judgement issued because Janša failed to pick up court mail and respond to the lawsuit, the court also ordered to Janša to apologise for the claim on Twitter within 15 days. Janša can appeal against the judgement within 30 days.
Hojs hosts first trialogue on Europol mandate's review
BRUSSELS, Belgium As chair of the EU's Home Affairs Council, Interior Minister Aleš Hojs hosted the first session as part of the inter-institutional negotiations on Europol mandate's review. The trialogue that also features the European Parliament was held in a constructive atmosphere, the Slovenian EU presidency said. As part of the trialogue, the Council of the EU and European Parliament will coordinate the wording of proposals for changes to the relevant regulations that enables the powers of Europol to be expanded in terms of research and innovation, handling of big data and cooperation with third countries.
Prosecution rejects implied blame for threats to politicians
LJUBLJANA - The Supreme State Prosecutor's Office responded to statements suggesting that the prosecution is indirectly to blame for the death threats received in recent days by senior politicians in Slovenia. "We have been and we will always respond to such acts in line with the law and within our powers and competences," it said. This comes after death threats were sent by mail to PM Janez Janša and Defence Minister Matej Tonin last week, and suspicious mail was also detected by National Assembly staff.
Slovenia discusses digital voucher and chips act, calls for reduction of digital gap
BRUSSELS, Belgium - As part of a working visit to Brussels, Minister for Digital Transformation Mark Boris Andrijanič presented to the European Commission Slovenia's digitalisation plans, particularly the digital voucher project, and proposals regarding the new EU chips act. He also called for regional centres of excellence in semiconductor research. State Secretars Peter Geršak meanwhile attended a session of the D9+ group of the most digitally advanced EU countries in Luxembourg, noting the importance of reducing a digital gap between EU member states, as the growing digitalisation directly affects the quality of life of citizens.
Upper chamber vetoes amendments to pharmacy act
LJUBLJANA - The upper chamber of parliament vetoed by 14 votes for and 10 against a bill amending the pharmacy practice act that would lift the ban on vertical integration of pharmacies and drug wholesalers in cases when the wholesaler is incorporated by a public pharmacy or municipality. The National Assembly endorsed the bill amending the pharmacy act last Wednesday, but a veto of the bill was proposed by the group representing employers in the National Council. The lower chamber will have to take a re-vote on the bill, with an absolute majority of 46 votes required for the passage.
CoE calls for state funding for STA, UKOM wants to meet new boss immediately
STRASBOURG, France/LJUBLJANA -Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović called on the Slovenian government to reinstate public funding for the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) in line with national laws. The STA delivers an important public service, contributing to plurality of media and info sources in Slovenia. Preserving it is essential for media freedom in the country," she said on Twitter. The head of the Government Communication Office (UKOM) Uroš Urbanija meanwhile invited Igor Kadunc, the new STA acting director, to a working meeting, proposed to place next Tuesday, on Kadunc's first working day.
Anti-Covid restriction protests held in several Slovenian cities
LJUBLJANA/MARIBOR... - Protesters against the Covid pass mandate gathered for another rally, this time in several Slovenian cities, including in Ljubljana where the protest was the largest, totalling a few hundred people. The rallies were peaceful. In the capital, the protesters gathered in Republic Square, their usual starting point, before marching through the streets. Rallies in Maribor, Celje and Koper meanwhile saw fewer than hundred people. The participants were again critical of anti-coronavirus restrictions and the government, reiterating their call for an early election.
Committee okays motion to give Krško status of urban municipality
LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Interior Committee okayed an initiative by opposition National Party (SNS) deputy Dušan Šiško for Krško to get the status of an urban municipality. Šiško said it was a local initiative that realised the wishes of the residents and representatives of local authorities, and Krško Mayor Miran Stanko added that the municipality would soon incorporate around 10,000 residents to add to the municipality's 26,000 residents. Additional amendments to the act on the establishment of municipality for the same status to be granted to the municipalities of Brežice and Jesenice were meanwhile rejected.
Slovenian households with record savings last year
LJUBLJANA - Slovenian households made record savings last year, but their debt did not change significantly compared to 2019, the Statistics Office reported ahead of World Savings Day on 31 October. The household savings rate in Slovenia - defined as the share of gross savings in gross disposable income - hit a record high of 22.6% last year, which places the country the third among EU countries. The value of household net financial assets was at an all-time high of EUR 48.2 billion (102.8% of GDP).
Almost 17% more deaths in Slovenia last year compared to 2019
LJUBLJANA - A total of 24,016 people died in Slovenia in 2020, which is 3,428 (16.7%) more than in 2019, with the average age of the deceased being up by one year. The high mortality rate, especially in November and December 2020, resulted in the highest negative natural increase since 1945, the Statistics Office said. Natural population increase has remained in the negative since 2017.
President awards Golden Order of Merit to National Museum
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor awarded the Golden Order of Merit to the National Museum of Slovenia upon its 200th anniversary celebrations, for the museum's outstanding contribution to the formation and preservation of Slovenian cultural, scientific and national identity. It was two hundred years ago when the participants of the Congress of Laibach proposed the establishment of a Homeland Museum, which would collect "objects related to the history of the country, national creativity and literature, and the priceless treasures of nature". The museum was founded in 1821 and named the Carniolan Regional Museum.
This year's Jenko Prize goes to Nina Dragičević
KRANJ - This year's Jenko Prize, Slovenia's accolade for the best poetry collection in the past two years, was awarded to Nina Dragičević for To Telo, Pokončno (This Body, Upright), which has been praised as a book that is definitely needed at this moment in time. This comes after Dragičević was nominated for the prize two years ago for her collection Ljubav Reče Greva (Love Says Let's Go). Her latest work, published by independent publisher ŠKUC in 2021, is in many ways a sequel that focuses on the body and its multifaceted nature, including experiences, future possibilities and other factors that define it, said the jury.
China to host first retrospective of Slovenian film
BEIJING, China - A retrospective of Slovenian films made between 1956 and 2020 will be screened in China for the first time between 28 October and 4 November. All six feature films will have Chinese and English subtitles. The retrospective will open at the China Film Archive in Beijing with the digitalised and restored version of the 1956 film Valley of Peace by France Štiglic. The films will be screened in major Chinese cities afterwards.
Picasso: Writing into Drawing opening being moved to +MSUM
LJUBLJANA - An exhibition of Pablo Picasso's illustrations termed Picasso: Writing into Drawing, marking the 140th anniversary of the birth of the great artist, is being moved from the flood-damaged Moderna Galerija to the Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova (+MSUM). It will open there on 18 November and be on display until 20 February 2022. The exhibition brings almost 260 illustrations Picasso made in mid-20th century, all of them coming to Ljubljana from a private collection in Italy.
