PM Janša falls ill with Covid
LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša self-tested positive for coronavirus. He posted a photo of a positive test result on Twitter, saying he had all the symptoms typical of Covid-19, although mild. Janša said that his family had successfully avoided coronavirus for two years until Tuesday, when his two sons had self-tested positive, while his test had been negative.
President formally calls general election for 24 April
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor formally called the general election in Slovenia for 24 April, announcing that he would give the mandate to form the government to the person with sufficient support in the new parliament after the election. After the signing of the presidential decree to call the election, parties and lists can enter their bids for the election starting next week, 14 February. These need to be submitted by 24 March when official election campaign starts.
Just over 5,000 new coronavirus cases logged on Culture Day
LJUBLJANA - A total of 5,076 people tested positive for coronavirus in Slovenia on Tuesday, a public holiday. The figure is significantly below the over 11,00 cases reported for the day before or over 23,000 logged a week ago in an all-time high. Figures released by the government show hospitalisations remain broadly stable. 18 more patients with Covid-19 died yesterday.
Govt not in favour of public sector pay rise, unions threaten with strike
LJUBLJANA - Trade unions' demand for a six-grade pay rise for all public sector employees runs against the government's objective of public finance sustainability, Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik as he met representatives of public sector trade unions, who meanwile said the government had until next Tuesday to decide on the matter, adding that otherwise, they will go on strike. The government will take a decision on this demand, Koritnik, the head of the government's negotiating team, said.
Fiscal Council: Robust growth blurs public finance issues
LJUBLJANA - The current robust economic growth is blurring a worsening of Slovenia's public finances, the Fiscal Council said in its latest assessment of the country's public finances. It estimated that the structural measures taken during the Covid epidemic which are unrelated to it will affect the public finances by reducing GDP by 2.2% a year.
Ministry expects SSH, KAD to exercise pre-emptive right in Sava sale
LJUBLJANA - The Economy Ministry expects Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH) and the KAD fund to exercise their pre-emptive right as the private fund York is selling its 43% stake in Slovenian tourism company Sava, State Secretary Simon Zajc told the parliamentary Commission for Oversight of Public Finances. At the session requested by the centre-left opposition, the commission adopted the resolution to call on the government to exercise the pre-emptive right, and ensure transparent and rapid consolidation of ownership in the basic tourist infrastructure.
Foreign Minister Logar talks business cooperation in Qatar
DOHA, Qatar - Foreign Minister Anže Logar met in Doha on Wednesday his Qatari counterpart Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani to speak about economic cooperation and regional and global issues, including energy, the Foreign Ministry tweeted. Logar also took the opportunity to talk with the Qatari minister of foreign affairs about Slovenia's candidacy for a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Prior to that, the Slovenian foreign minister was received by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, with the talks focusing on deepening friendly relations between the two countries, the ministry said.
Left submits signatures to support APCs referendum motion
LJUBLJANA - The opposition Left filed to parliament a motion for a referendum with which it would like to prevent ratification of an agreement with the OCCAR on the purchase of Boxer armoured personnel vehicles (APCs). To support its motion, the party collected 6,800 signatures in seven days, 4,300 more than needed. Under referendum legislation, the National Assembly has 14 days to decide whether the motion is in line with the constitution or not, with an absolute majority needed. Defence Minister Matej Tonin had announced last week that, if requested, the referendum would be challenged at the Constitutional Court.
Treasury gearing to buy back several bonds
LJUBLJANA - The treasury has approached the market to repurchase dollar- and euro-denominated state bonds maturing in 2023 and 2024. The total amount of outstanding debt is EUR 3.56 billion and US$1.38 billion. Its offer stands until 15 February. In notices posted on the websites of the Finance Ministry and the Ljubljana Stock Exchange, the sovereign announced its invitation to eligible holders of its outstanding bonds to tender.
Vesna green party formally established with two co-chairs
ZAGORJE OB SAVI - The new green party Vesna held its founding congress, at which environmentalists Urša Zgojznik and Uroš Macerl were elected its co-presidents. The former said the goal was to enter the parliament and demand that programmes in the fields of environment, economy, agriculture, youth policy and democracy be implemented. "Vesna is entering the political arena with action-oriented people and a finalised programme," the party said after the congress. The party will focus on investments in green economy, sustainable farming models and organic food production, improving mobility, obtaining energy from renewable sources.
Sculptures linking Slovenia and Austria in tribute to WWII prisoners
LJUBELJ - A sculpture by Japanese artist Seiji Kimoto has been unveiled at the Slovenian side of the Ljubelj Pass tunnel in memory of the prisoners of the Nazi concentration camp who built the tunnel during World War II in an exact match to the one on the Austrian side. The piece, entitled Unforgotten - Unbroken, was unveiled at a ceremony on the platform outside the tunnel on Tuesday, celebrated as Culture Day in Slovenia, after one such was unveiled on the Austrian side of what is called Loiblpass in German.
Slovak developer planning new projects in Ljubljana
LJUBLJANA - Corwin, a Slovak developer present in Slovenia for over four years, and its Czech partner Hartenberg have purchased two large plots in the centre of Ljubljana to build several hundred new flats, new offices and a shopping mall, the company said. Construction is expected to start around 2024.
Nearly half of employers expect 5% pay rise, shows survey
LJUBLJANA - A total of 46% of Slovenian employers intend to raise wages by 5% in the first half of this year, shows Manpower's survey on salary and employee benefits trends. Employers cite retaining talent in their organisations as the main reason for the increase. According to Manpower, 25% of the employers expect to raise pay between 6% and 10%, 4% expect a rise of 11-15%, and 1% a rise of more than 21%.
Renault car repair shops found in breach of competition rules
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's competition watchdog has found Renault Nissan Slovenija and four other companies have been colluding against competition in repair and maintenance of Renault vehicles through a cartel agreement for over ten years. One of the companies has admitted its involvement and provided further evidence in exchange for a milder sentence.
Skier Slokar misses out on Olympic medal by a whisker
BEIJING, China - Slovenian skier Andreja Slokar missed out an Olympic medal in the women's slalom in Beijing by a tenth of a second to finish fifth. Another Slovenian, Ana Bucik, was 11th. Slokar, 24, was in the battle for medals after an excellent first run, which put her in fourth place. In the finals, however, she lost key advantage in the lower part of the slope to cross the finish line as fourth.
