Ljubljana related
STA, 29 April 2020 - The Slovenian and Croatian ministers in charge of tourism, Zdravko Počivalšek and Gari Cappelli, met in Zagreb on Wednesday to discuss the possibilities for relaunching the sector in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. They agreed that a solution should at least be found for Slovenian owners of real estate in Croatia.
Počivalšek, the minister of economic development and technology, noted that around 110,000 real estate units in Croatia were owned by Slovenian citizens and that it would be appropriate if they were able to visit their holiday homes.
Slovenia is optimistic about the possibility that cross-border traffic with Croatia is at least partially re-established, at least by the late summer, if not earlier, under special medical protection conditions, he added.
The press release from the Croatian Ministry of Tourism also said that the Slovenian minister labelled Slovenia and Croatia as traditionally tourism-oriented and friendly countries, with both nations being good hosts.
Počivalšek later told the press that Slovenia and Croatia had a good epidemiological situation, which allowed the countries to think about gradually opening the tourism sector and borders, which would be implemented in two phases.
In the first phase, which would start by the end of May, Slovenian owners of real estate and boats in Croatia and vice-versa would be allowed to cross the border.
In the second phase, which is the most likely to start in the second half of June, travel by other tourists would also be allowed, the Slovenian minister said, adding that he and Cappelli would propose this to their respective governments.
Počivalšek said it was too early to speak about specific dates, as the opening of borders must be based on epidemiological criteria. A protocol for crossing the shared border and accommodation in tourist destinations needs to be laid down first, he added.
"The National Public Health Institute will contact next week the relevant Croatian centre so that the protocol is drafted, because it will not be possible to cross the border without it," the Slovenian minister said.
Cappelli meanwhile said as he met Počivalšek that Slovenians were among the most numerous tourists in Croatia, and the countries cooperate very well in tourism. Croatia last year recorded almost 1.6 million visits and just under 11 million overnight stays by Slovenians.
Cappelli added that the relevant bodies were already discussing the possibilities to open borders and on how to secure all needed measures and procedures so that Slovenian citizens could spend their summer holidays in Croatia.
Slovenian citizens who own real estate and movable property in Croatia are a special issue, he said, adding that a solution was being sought under which they would be able to visit their property while respecting all epidemiological measures.
Cappelli and Počivalšek assessed that such an agreement could serve as a case of good practice in the EU, with Croatia as the current EU presiding country having already launched an initiative for a similar solution to be implemented at the EU level.
The ministers also stressed the need to improve the state of tourism, especially in the light of the availability of funds for the sector in the future financial frameworks of the EU.
They also discussed the current state and options for maintaining the stability of tourism companies and jobs in the sector.
It was agreed that both national tourism organisations should prepare for the coming period together. "So that we jointly promote this party of Europe in remote markets when airline transport gets revitalised," Počivalšek said.
STA, 28 April - The government is further relaxing restrictions imposed to contain the coronavirus by reopening museums, galleries and libraries and by allowing real estate agents and chimney sweepers to resume business tomorrow. As of 4 May, bars and restaurants will also be able to reopen, yet serving guests only at outdoor facilities.
Outdoor bar and restaurant facilities reopening is the first easing of restrictions for the hospitality sector, the government noted after Tuesday's correspondence session.
Given that the recommendations of the National Institute of Public Health are taken into account, all the latest exceptions to the 16 March temporary ban on the sale of goods and services allow for a minimum contact between people, the government explained its decision on the relaxation of measures.
Small businesses such as shoe repair shops, key cutters, clothing shops, photographers, photocopy services, watchmaker shops and jeweller's will also reopen on Monday.
While the government announced that hairdressers and beauty parlours will reopen on 4 May some time ago, it now also added massage and pedicure services to the list.
Excluded are however still saunas, wellness centres, piercing and tattoo shops and other similar shops where it believes Covid-19 could be contracted more easily.
People older than 65 as well as other vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and disabled will be able to do their shopping also outside the dedicated hours, that is not only between 8am and 10am. The elderly will also no longer have to present a document to prove their age.
Nevertheless, the vulnerable groups are still recommended to do their shopping during the hours which are designated especially to them.
While even shops which have remained open during the lockdown had to close on Sundays, shops selling mostly food can be open on Sunday, 3 May, between 8am and 1pm.
This is to avoid crowds just before and after the May Day holiday weekend, when shops would otherwise be closed for three full days, from Friday to Sunday.
Union calls for permanent closure of shops on Sundays
STA, 28 April 2020 - The Trade Union of Retail has called for the permanent closure of shops on Sundays. "Over this past month we have proved as a nation that Sunday shopping is not urgently needed," it said in a message circulated ahead of Labour Day.
The union says Sunday shopping was a great burden for employees and ate into the time they could otherwise spend with their families. It also distracts the families of shoppers from spending quality time together.
Several European countries have put in place limits on Sunday shopping and "their retail systems are functioning despite such restrictions."
Slovenia closed shops Sundays as part of lockdown measures that took effect in mid-March, with exemptions only for petrol stations and small independent grocery shops.
Before the pandemic, working time was almost fully liberalised and many shops were open Sundays.
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Six new Covid-19 cases recorded, death toll up by three to 86
PM says govt to discuss plan for easing lockdown tomorrow
Minister sees issues with coronavirus contact tracing apps
Six new Covid-19 cases recorded, death toll up by three to 86
STA, 28 April 2020 - A total of 683 new Covid-19 tests were performed in Slovenia on Monday, resulting in six new cases to bring the total number of confirmed infections to 1,408. Three persons died of Covid-19 yesterday, brining the total death toll in the country to 86, the government said on Tuesday.
A total of 78 Covid-19 patients were in hospitals around the country yesterday, of whom 24 were in intensive care. Two persons were discharged from hospital while the number of persons in intensive care was up by two.
A total of 50,290 tests have been performed in Slovenia so far, with a random testing of population being introduced last Monday. No new infections have been detected as part of the random testing campaign.
Šmarje pri Jelšah in the east of the country remains the largest hot spot in the country on a per capita basis, and four out of the six cases recorded yesterday were detected there.
One new case was recorded in Ljutomer (NE), which is another hot spot with 117 confirmed infections, second only to Šmarje pri Jelšah (172) and Ljubljana (247).
The municipalities of Ljutomer and Šmarje pri Jelšah are much smaller than Ljubljana, and the bulk of their cases are related to the local nursing homes.
PM says govt to discuss plan for easing lockdown tomorrow
STA, 28 April 2020 - Prime Minister Janez Janša has announced that the government will discuss on Wednesday plans to loosen coronavirus lockdown measures for the foreseeable future. It is also expected to discuss reports by individual ministries on the procurement of personal protective equipment, which have raised some doubts.
Janša tweeted on Tuesday that current data on the course of the epidemic allow a sober reflection on lifting certain restrictions to movement and a gradual revival of activities for which "a safe distance, the disinfecting of hands and meeting points and safe use of protective equipment" can be secured.
It is not clear which restrictions could be eased and to what extent. The bulk of the criticism coming from part of the public and politics has been directed at the limiting of movement to municipal borders.
There have also been calls to restart public transport, while a big question mark are kindergartens and schools, although one date circulating is 11 May.
The government's spokesperson Jelko Kacin indicated today that the government was considering reopening schools, but that it would wait to see the results in countries that had already done it before taking a final decision.
Some restrictions have meanwhile already been lifted, with recent new exceptions to the lockdown including takeaway restaurants, DIY stores, car showrooms, car washes, stores selling bicycles, technical goods and furniture stores, dry cleaners, some repair shops, and insurance agents.
As of today, weddings in restricted format are possible. As of tomorrow, museums, libraries and galleries will reopen and partners will again be allowed to be present during childbirth.
Yet more services will be available from 4 May, with the reopening of hair salons, beauty parlours, dog and cat grooming salons and shops of up to 400 m2 sales space, except for those in shopping centres. Outdoor facilities of bars and restaurants will also reopen on Monday and so should churches.
The government is also expected to discuss tomorrow a report on the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE), requested by Janša after a wave of accusations about dodgy procedures and faulty equipment.
The report was compiled by the Economy Ministry on the basis of reports by the economy, defence, health and foreign ministries plus the Agency for Commodity Reserves.
Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek said it featured all relevant information and data about the PPE procurement since 27 February (that is under the previous government), including between 13 March, when the new government took over, and 10 April, "when there was a terrifying shortage of protective equipment" and when everyone was under pressure from health workers to procure PPE. The report also covers the period after 10 April, when the situation eased off, he said.
The minister again rejected the allegations about pressure to close deals with certain suppliers, noting the majority of contracts had been signed by Agency for Commodity Reserves employee Ivan Gale.
Gale last week spoke to TV Slovenija revealing pressure on the agency and some potential irregularities, but Počivalšek said today Gale would have to explain at least three contracts.
The government is expected to send the report to parliament and expectedly also to the law enforcement.
Interior Minister Aleš Hojs meanwhile announced his ministry would propose for the restriction of the movement to one's municipality of residence to be lifted.
He however pointed out it would depend on the assessment of the coronavirus situation by the task force at the Health Ministry.
While he could not say when exactly this could happen, he indicated in a statement for POP TV the restriction could be lifted after May Day holidays at the latest.
Minister sees issues with coronavirus contact tracing apps
STA, 28 April 2020 - Slovenian Interior Minister Aleš Hojs argues that coronavirus contact tracing apps first needs to be very well presented to people, because it would not be effective without their trust. He sees many issues in relation to such mobile applications, which is not expected to be introduced in Slovenia any time soon.
Hojs spoke to Slovenian reporters in Brussels over the phone after taking part in a video-conference of EU interior ministers on Tuesday, with coronavirus contact tracing apps being one of the topics.
Mobile applications that find persons who have been in contact with an app user who has tested positive for coronavirus, are raising issues in some EU countries over privacy and personal information protection issues.
In Slovenia, such an app is not being used at the moment, and is not available. Slovenia, being a small country, will probably join one of the apps which will be available on the market, the minister said.
Hojs noted that, at today's session, Germany and France had announced that they would very probably use such an app, and that the Czech Republic and Poland reported about such an app being already in use.
Representatives of all four countries have stressed that the use of such an app is possible exclusively on a voluntary basis, only if an individual gives their explicit consent, the minister added.
He personally sees a number of issues. Simple logic and common sense say that if someone who has recovered from Covid-19 or is still infected does not use the app, their contacts will not be traced, so the data obtained will not be complete.
"This is why the purpose of the application needs to be presented very well first," Hojs said, adding that it should be emphasised that users would remain anonymous, as this was one of the biggest fears related to the use of such an app.
Asked when such an app could be available in Slovenia, the minister said it was not likely that it would be available soon.
STA, 28 April 2020 - Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti indicated at the government's regular coronavirus briefing on Tuesday that, the situation permitting, galleries, museums and libraries could start opening at the beginning of May.
While all culture activities and institutions have been confined to the internet since mid-March, Simoniti said Slovenia was successful in limiting the spread of coronavirus and was starting to soften lockdown restrictions in individual areas.
The beginning of May could thus potentially see galleries, museums, libraries and potentially also some other institutions opening their doors, he said.
However, this still depends on forthcoming reports and recommendations by health experts, the minister added.
Meanwhile, Simoniti feels the ministry had done a good job in mitigating the impact of the crisis on culture workers, with funding secured for institutions despite the production hiatus along with benefits for precarious workers in the sector.
"I hope we've provided at least the basics that prevent anyone from being gravely hurt and activities from dying in any field so that full operations in culture and the arts can be restored once the disease is removed and all the restrictions are lifted," he said.
All our stories on coronavirus are here
STA, 28 April 2020 - Revoz, the Renault-owned car assembly plant and by far Slovenia's largest exporter, relaunched production on Tuesday after shutting down due to the coronavirus epidemic on 17 March.
The resumption of operations will be gradual and workers will work in two shifts starting next week, the company told the STA, adding that preventive measures had been beefed up and additional protective gear had been provided for employees.
The Novo Mesto-based company relies heavily on workers from the broader region and even Croatia, and has previously indicated that the re-launch of production would hinge on the resumption of public transportation, which has been suspended nation-wide since 16 March.
It said employees would have to arrange their own transportation to work this week while efforts will be made to arrange bus transportation for those unable to do that until next week.
Revoz has a workforce of roughly 3,400 and produces the Renault Clio, Renault Twingo and Smart Forfour EQ models.
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Six new Covid-19 cases recorded, death toll up by one to 83
Počivalšek optimistic about joint corona standards in tourism
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Six new Covid-19 cases recorded, death toll up by one to 83
STA, 27 April 2020 - A total of 634 new Covid-19 tests were performed in Slovenia on Sunday, resulting in six new cases to bring the total number of confirmed infections to 1,402. One person died of Covid-19 yesterday, bringing the total death toll in the country to 83, the government said on Monday.
A total of 80 Covid-19 patients were in hospitals around the country yesterday, of which 22 were in intensive care. No new cases were admitted and no patient was discharged from hospital for home care.
So far a total of 221 patients have been discharged from hospital for home care, the government said.
A total of 49,607 tests have been performed in Slovenia so far, with a random testing of population also being introduced last Monday.
Out of the 3,000 invitees, 1,320 persons have responded and 1,191 samples have been taken so far. One new infection and one infection that had already been recorded earlier have been detected as part of the campaign.
The total number of confirmed infection is 1,402, of which 621 are men and 781 women.
Počivalšek optimistic about joint corona standards in tourism
STA, 27 April 2020 - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek is moderately optimistic about the prospects of securing good and coordinated standards of anti-coronavirus measures in tourism. He has rejected concerns about possible discrimination based on passport, while calling for border-crossing protocol to be established relative to the epidemiological situation.
Počivalšek said this at Monday's videoconference of the EU ministers in charge of tourism, which comes after PM Janez Janša called at the EU summit last Thursday for a joint corona-standard for tourism facilities and services to be established.
The economy minister also noted that Slovenia advocated coordinated standards for the period after the end of the pandemic was declared, and more long-term standards, for example in the hotel organisation system.
Slovenia has already come up with a system, and would like to coordinate it with the neighbouring countries and broader at the EU level, Počivalšek told Slovenian correspondents in Brussels over the phone.
He believes that coordinated standards are also important for the drafting of the third national anti-corona legislative package, which will be focused on tourism, in which 70% of the revenue is generated by foreign guests.
The minister sees Slovenia's advantage in that it is not a destination for mass tourism, which will experience most of the difficulties. He also sees a solution in encouraging Slovenians to explore their own country, which is a destination for year-round tourism.
Počivalšek has rejected concerns about possible discrimination in tourism based on passport, but he also stressed that, as the tourism sector was being opened, it would be taken into account how individual countries handled the coronavirus crisis.
He assessed the situation in Slovenia as satisfactory, as it is a good foundation to start "flirting with relaxing measures in the field of tourism a little bit more courageously."
As the largest number of guests come from Italy, Slovenia will have to be reserved a bit and seek proof that the crisis in Italy has been managed. Slovenia is also interested in opening up to Austria and Germany as soon as possible, Počivalšek said.
As for Croatia, the minister noted that 110,000 Slovenians owned real estate in Croatia. He announced that he would speak on Wednesday with Croatian Tourism Minister Gari Cappelli, but not about "Slovenia saving Croatian tourism."
Počivalšek expects that the tourism sector will be restructured and prices adjusted to the situation, and he does not expect prices to increase.
He noted that, on Slovenia's initiative, sustainable tourism would be one of the topics of the next EU presiding trio of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia.
Slovenia supports the establishment of an informal platform for monitoring measures taken by EU member states in tourism, Počivalšek said, adding that today's conference heard much criticism against what is perceived as a too vague response from the European Commission.
Regarding financial support for the tourism sector, the minister hopes that financing will be available through the European Investment Bank (EIB), while also believing that coronabonds would be helpful for the entire economy, including tourism.
All our stories on coronavirus are here, while those covering covid-19 and Croatia are here. We'll have an update at the end of the day, and if you want newsflashes then we'll post those on Facebook
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Eight new coronavirus cases recorded, death toll up by one to 82
First case of Covid-19 infection discovered as part of random population testing
Eight new coronavirus cases recorded, death toll up by one to 82
STA, 26 April 2020 - Slovenia recorded eight new coronavirus cases on Saturday as 794 tests were carried out. One person died, bringing the total death toll to 82, according to government data released on Sunday.
The number of people in hospital with Covid-19 was 80, three more than on Friday. Twenty-three patients were in intensive care, unchanged from Friday, and two were discharged from hospital.
The majority of Covid-19 patients are currently treated at the two largest hospitals in the country, UKC Ljubljana (32) and UKC Maribor (29).
Until last midnight, as many as 48,973 test were carried out, of which 1,396 were positive. The days with the largest number of deaths were 4 and 6 April, when six persons died a day.
Saturday's number of new Covid-19 cases is roughly the same as Thursday's, when seven new infections were recorded, whereas the Friday figure more than doubled to 15 from a day earlier.
Commenting on the sharp daily rise, Milan Krek, who is to take over at the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) if green-lighted by the government, attributed it to people not sticking to social distancing rules during the Easter holiday.
"If people don't respect the restrictions, this will again reflect in the number of new infections in two weeks," he told the STA last evening after the NIJZ council appointed him the new director.
"I'm most worried about Labour Day bonfires. A single Labour Day party can lead to a catastrophe. It's enough for one infected person to be there to have 50 new cases a day in two weeks' time."
Krek therefore insists that the restrictions, including limits to travelling outside one's municipality of residence, must not be lifted yet.
Easing the restrictions gradually is key for the experts to be able to assess its impact on the health situation in the country. "The impact of easing one restriction must not exceed the capacities of the healthcare system," he warned.
First case of Covid-19 infection discovered as part of random population testing
STA, 26 April 2020 - As part of a random population Covid-19 testing launched on Monday, one person who did not know was infected has tested positive for the coronavirus. Epidemiologist have already contacted the person and advised those who have been in contact with them to self-isolate.
The person is from the north-east of the country, Miroslav Petrovec, head of the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology at the Faculty of Medicine said on Sunday.
The person was tested on Friday, and the first tests have shown that the infection is already easing off, Petrovec said.
Epidemiologists contacted the person on Saturday and identified the persons with whom the infected had been in contact to advise them self-isolation, Milan Krek, the new head of the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), told the STA.
Petrovec told the STA that this was the first newly discovered Covid-19 case as part of the nation-wide testing campaign.
No other details were revealed due to personal data protection rules, but this case is one of the eight new infections recorded on Saturday.
Four were recorded in central Slovenia (Ljubljana and Medvode) and three in Ljutomer, one of the hotspots of the coronavirus from the north-east.
Another person had meanwhile been previously tested as part of the random testing campaign who had known of their infection, having tested positive in March, explained Petrovec.
While 3,000 people have been invited to take part in the campaign, 1,315 have responded to the invitation and 1,136 tests have already been carried out.
As the government said on Twitter, 218 tests were performed on Saturday, and Petrovec said the campaign is also continuing today.
He believes it will take at least until Thursday to complete the testing. Then, next week the blood samples will also have to be analysed.
Krek on the other hand reiterated his view about the need to be cautious in easing movement restrictions, saying there were many unknowns about the virus.
It will also depend on the results of the random testing campaign how the government proceeds with the easing of the restrictions, said Krek, who was yesterday appointment NIJZ director, pending government approval.
All our stories on coronavirus are here, while those covering covid-19 and Croatia are here. We'll have an update at the end of the day, and if you want newsflashes then we'll post those on Facebook
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Slovenia records 15 new Covid-19 cases, death toll up by one to 81
Janša says restrictions here to stay, no inter-municipal movement during holidays
Insurance agents and car washes back in business
Slovenia records 15 new Covid-19 cases, death toll up by one to 81
STA, 25 April 2020 - Slovenia recorded 15 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, which brings the total number of infections to 1,388. One more person died for a total death toll of 81, according to government data released on Saturday.
The number of people in hospital with Covid-19 declined by one to 77, of whom 23 were in intensive care, down by one.
Slovenia has so far performed 48,179 coronavirus tests, 1,161 of which on Friday.
Janša says restrictions here to stay, no inter-municipal movement during holidays
STA, 25 April 2020 - Prime Minister Janez Janša commented on the state of the coronavirus epidemic on Saturday by saying many of the restrictions in place in Slovenia and the EU "will remain in place in the foreseeable future". The government indicated movement would stay limited to municipal borders also during the May holidays.
As part of a series of tweets, Janša said the government's measures were also based on a very serious situation in the neighbourhood and the "very negative experience of countries that are battling repeated outbreaks".
The government also issued a tweet today in the wake of an assessment meeting held on Friday, summarising the recommendation by it's chief medical adviser for the epidemic, Bojana Beović, to preserve the ban on movement between municipalities, since it has proven effective.
"Because a lot of movement can be expected during the May holidays and given that available data shows the epidemic is still simmering and that the data from comprehensive random population testing is not in yet, we have decided to recommend the extension of the existing measures," the government summed up Beović's explanation.
Janša meanwhile announced a number of activities would able to resume soon, but that it would be crucial to follow three key preventative measures: "Disinfecting of hands and meeting points, keeping a safe distance and using protective masks where this (distance) is not possible."
While noting available data put Slovenia among the most successful European countries in the fight against the Covid-19, Janša said experts in Slovenia and in the EU were busy adopting standards to launch different systems, including education, tourism and public transport, so they could function again at least in a limited scope despite the virus.
The government's taskforce that examined the situation on Friday in cooperation with experts from the Health Ministry, will meet again on 29 April to look at fresh data and adopt decisions based on the latests findings.
The Constitutional Court ordered the government on 17 April to immediately verify the justification for restrictions on the movement of persons put in place to contain the spread of coronavirus, and to keep examining each week if the decree imposing these restrictions is still justifiable.
Insurance agents and car washes back in business
STA, 25 April 2020 - Car washes and insurance agents will be able to resume their business on Saturday, after the government added new exemptions to the ban on the sale of goods and services during the coronavirus epidemic.
The cabinet gave its go-ahead for the most recent easing of the lockdown rules last night, when it also extended the general temporary ban on the movement and gathering of people in public places and ban on movement outside municipality or residence.
This was as the decree imposing the ban was amended to include a provision that the justification of the measures would be checked once a week, as mandated by the Constitutional Court.
Several exemptions had already been enforced since the government imposed a temporary ban on most retail establishments in mid March to contain the coronavirus epidemic.
Only grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, post offices, petrol stations, news stands and stores selling agricultural products remained open until pet food shops were added to the exemptions from 21 March and florist shops and nurseries from 3 April, along with construction works not involving contacts with customers.
Several more stores and services were allowed to resume their operations last Monday, including DIY stores, car showrooms, stores selling bicycles, technical goods and furniture, dry cleaners and some repair shops such as tyre change and car repair and car painter's shops.
Since Monday services also resumed that are performed outdoors such as gardening services, roof and facade work, and takeaways involving minimum contact with customers.
Outdoor sports and recreational grounds such as tennis courts, golf courses and track and field areas also reopened for activities that do not involve close contact.
Yet more services will be available from 4 May, with the reopening of hair salons, beauty parlours, dog and cat grooming salons and shops of up to 400 m2 sales space, except for those in shopping centres.
Social distancing and safety measures such as the wearing of face masks in indoor places, hand sanitising and disinfection remain mandatory in all the establishments.
The covers and editorials from leading weeklies of the Left and Right for the work-week ending Friday, 24 March 2020. All our stories about coronavirus and Slovenia are here
Mladina: Počivalšek in dire situation over mask purchases
STA, 24 April 2020 – The left-wing weekly Mladina says in its latest commentary that Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek is in a dire position over the blunders with purchases of protective equipment. Not only has he fallen out of favour with PM Janez Janša, he also faces the possibility of the MPs of the party he presides turning their backs on him.
Grega Repovž, the editor-in-chief of the left-leaning weekly, says that considering the developments, it is becoming obvious that the "story about the effective and self-sacrificing campaign to buy masks and other protective equipment will end really badly."
And the person for whom it is to end badly is not just anybody, it is Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, the president of the coalition Modern Centre Party (SMC), who is obviously "not aware yet how large a snowball is descending upon him".
Repovž notes that the minister is not aware that the snowball is not being rolled only by the media, which are the least of a problem, or criminal police officers who investigate the purchases, or the opposition.
"The snowball is now being rolled by the coalition partner Janez Janša. And it is likely that Počivalšek's SMC party, which does not want to go down with him, will join Janša. This is what Počivalšek is actually facing."
The latest discoveries about the purchases have prompted criminal police officers to visit the Agency for Commodity Reserves, with Počivalšek reacting by quickly dismissing its director Anton Zakrajšek, a member of Janša's Democratic Party (SDS).
Zakrajšek, who was on sick leave, said the following day that he was keeping tabs on Počivalšek's dealings, that he knew everything, and that he would talk about this, Repovž adds in the commentary headlined Počivalšek in Dire Straits.
Počivalšek has only small chances of surviving this politically, as protective masks are too sensitive of a matter, and if he is to face a motion of no confidence, it will be really difficult to defend him, even for his own MPs.
"At a certain point, they will realise that they can't defend him. And why would they? Počivalšek himself let everybody know that this is now a party of pure pragmatism. If they have changed political colours and coalition, why would't they replace Počivalšek too?".
Demokracija: Deep left-right differences in response to pandemic
STA, 23 April 2020 – The right-wing Demokracija magazine argues in Thursday's commentary that the left and the right have reacted to the coronavirus crisis in fundamentally different ways, the left "showing yet again how two-faced they are".
When some governments adopted fairly strict measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, leftists started demanding a free market economy with all the attendant liberties. Together with the mainstream media, they are indignant at people being unable to travel freely, at some shops being closed and suddenly they feel pity for private businesses, the paper says in Chronicles of the Primitive Mind.
"In fact, the virus misfortune has laid painfully bare the difference between the left and right perception of the world. While the left would control and restrict in peacetime and create (anarchistic) chaos in times of crisis, jeopardising human lives, the right resorts to restrictions of human rights and fundamental liberties exclusively in 'wartime' (which a pandemic is) while letting people freely act, work and live in normal circumstances."
What is worst for the left is that people tend to look up to the leaders of nation states in times such as the coronavirus era, rather than expecting salvation from supranational organisations, Demokracija says, noting that leftists see strong nation states, even if their strict measures prove effective, as "a step towards dictatorship".
"This can easily be called a globalist reflex, a primitive mind assuming that a greater number of infected and dead persons is preferable to the right gaining trust among the public. This is why efforts by the coalition need to be cancelled, measures boycotted. Whatever happens, Janša's centre-right government will be blamed anyway.
"This kind of thinking is more primitive than the thinking of an average crook. Whereas the crook allows for the possibility that he may be to blame in certain circumstances (because he did not abide by the rules), leftist crooks (regardless of the circumstances and actions) always claim that somebody else is to blame," the paper concludes.
All our posts in this series are here
STA, 24 April 2020 - A report by public broadcaster TV Slovenija on Thursday showed extensive political interference in the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE), with a senior employee of the Commodities and Reserves Agency pointing a finger at Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, his aides and former executives. Počivalšek denies any wrongdoing.
Ivan Gale, who stood in for the agency's director Anton Zakrajšek after he contracted the coronavirus, told the Tarča current affairs show that Počivalšek had personally intervened in favour of a ventilator contract with the company Geneplanet worth EUR 8 million.
A recording of a phone call between Počivalšek and a representative of the agency was played in which Počivalšek provides guidance on how the contract should be handled.
Počivalšek also "sent his envoy Andreja Potočnik to the agency and she pressured us, the director, screamed at the head of finance to transfer the money to the company," Gale said.
The agency had also been pressured into signing a contract with Geneplanet for a million FFP2-type masks for frontline staff by Potočnik,a member of a government task force for the purchase of PPE, and another member of the task force, Mitja Terče, according to Gale.
Gale said he had talked to Počivalšek several times and had been told to "be cooperative, listen to Terče". The minister himself, however, "avoided being held to account". "You will not find any consent or signature by the minister or the secretary on any contract, the gentlemen decided to shift this to others."
Gale also believes that Zakrajšek, who has recently been replaced as agency director, was pressured into resigning.
Počivalšek responded today, saying that the story was an orchestrated "hunt on my head". He acknowledged things could have been done better, but he said the situation at the start of the epidemic had been unprecedented.
"Neither me nor my colleagues have lobbied or politically influenced decisions in any way," Počivalšek said, adding that the goal had been to speed up procedures and secure protective equipment for the frontline at a time when it was needed the most.
"If employees at the agency had worked at the same pace ... as they had been used to in peacetime, we would still not have emergency equipment to this day," Počivalšek said.
He sees no need to resign over the accusations. "I don't see a scandal in the equipment purchasing, I see work well done," he said.
Terče issued a written statement to TV Slovenija saying he had acted transparently and in the interest of the country. He denied pressuring anyone.
Gale mentioned several other current and former officials as exerting pressure, including former MEP and prime minister Lojze Peterle, who intervened with the agency for the supply of masks from Germany, offering a small company owned by his daughter as a go-between.
Damijan Jaklin, state secretary at the Defence Ministry, the head of an interdepartmental task force reviewing offers for the supply of equipment, pushed for a contract with Inovatio, a Maribor-based company. "For this provider in particular the pressure was unusual," Gale said.
Marjan Podobnik, the president of the non-parliamentary People's Party (SLS), pressured the agency's director to conclude a deal with Dobnik Trade, a small company from Slovenska Bistrica. Gale said he had threatened the director that he would lose his job.
Another company that the agency was pressured into signing a contract with is Acron, which has been in the spotlight in recent weeks because the mother of Defence Minister Matej Tonin is a senior employee there.
Acron has signed several contracts with the agency worth roughly EUR 30 million, with Gale saying that Acron had turned out to be a reliable supplier but had "always been a privileged supplier".
Tonin has repeatedly denied intervening on behalf of Acron and has asked the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption to look into the deals.
Yesterday, before the report aired, the opposition Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) said it would file a no-confidence motion against Počivalšek, however, the only other party to support this was the opposition Left.
This has meanwhile changed, as the opposition Social Democrats (SD) and the Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) have also backed the plan. The LMŠ said today that a constructive no-confidence vote against the entire government was also possible but would be hard to pull off.
The LMŠ called on Tonin to resign as well, while the defence minister said this morning that many of the issues raised in the report had been news to him.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Janša tweeted that the government had ordered reports from all bodies involved in PPE procurement, which will also show how much PPE Slovenia had when his government had taken over from the team led by Marjan Šarec just over a month ago.
Janša said the reports would be sent to the National Assembly, while Tonin, is a statement for commercial broadcaster Kanal A, said that the reports would also be sent to investigative authorities. Once it is established what had happened, accountability will be demanded, Tonin added.
Today, reports suggested that Gale had been assigned police protection but this has been denied by the police. It prompted, however, Transparency International Slovenija to call on the authorities not only to examine the contentious procedures, but also to protect whistleblowers.
