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This summary is provided by the STA:
New government makes several additional staffing changes
LJUBLJANA - The new government made several staffing changes at its maiden session on Wednesday, replacing the heads of the Defence Ministry's intelligence and security service (OVS) and of the Office for Money Laundering Prevention. It also replaced its four representatives on the councils of the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) and the National Laboratory for Health, Environment and Food (NLZOH). PM Robert Golob announced that all appointments, reassignments and promotions in the state administration since 1 January 2020 would be revised.
Govt clears 13 prosecutor appointments
LJUBLJANA - The government signed off the appointments of 13 state prosecutors that had been stalled under the Janez Janša government. The move had been announced by Dominika Švarc Pipan in her presentation in parliament before her confirmation as justice minister. State prosecution had been warning of acute staff shortages because the previous government would not decide on the nomination proposals. Justice Ministry data shows 25% of classified prosecution posts were vacant at the end of 2021.
Ministry withdraws consent for suits against protesters
LJUBLJANA - The Interior Ministry withdrew its consent for first damages suits brought against individuals over the costs of policing of unregistered anti-government protests over the past two years. The Interior Ministry told the STA that in withdrawing the consent Minister Tatjana Bobnar acted in line with the positions taken on the matter by the State Attorney's Office, the ministry's legal service and the Human Rights Ombudsman.
Fajon pledges support for EU, Schengen enlargement
LJUBLJANA - Tanja Fajon, the leader of the SocDems (SD), took over from Anže Logar as the foreign minister, pledging closer ties with core EU countries and further support for EU enlargement and Schengen zone enlargement. Logar expressed the hope that Slovenia would remain committed to helping Ukraine, including on the country's way towards the EU. Fajon pledged this commitment, stressing that as minister she "will do everything for Slovenia to actively contribute to ending the war".
Austrian foreign minister due in Ljubljana on Monday
LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon will host her Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg in Ljubljana on Monday in what will be her first international bilateral meeting since the new Slovenian government assumed office. Schallenberg will also meet Prime Minister Robert Golob and President Borut Pahor. The Foreign Ministry said Fajon and Schallenberg would discuss bilateral, EU and regional cooperation, the war in Ukraine and the European perspective of the Western Balkans.
New ministers to work together over energy price hikes
LJUBLJANA - The new infrastructure minister, Bojan Kumer, said he and Economy Minister Matjaž Han would appoint a task force on Monday to deal with rising energy prices. "The energy price hikes need to be addressed immediately," Kumer said as he took over from his predecessor Jernej Vrtovec. The Economy Ministry is responsible for fuel prices and the Infrastructure Ministry for electricity and gas prices. The price caps on fuels, at EUR 1.560 a litre for regular and EUR 1.668 for diesel, remain in force.
New defence minister to make field visits first
LJUBLJANA - After taking over from his predecessor Matej Tonin, Defence Minister Marjan Šarec announced his plan to make field visits to military, and civil protection and disaster relief units in order to get to know about the situation first-hand. One of his first moves as minister will be to tackle military personnel shortages. After assuming office, Šarec said he and Tonin had a detailed discussion, and he thanked the ex-minister for his work during the turbulent pandemic times.
Bobnar pledges never to cross politics-police line
LJUBLJANA - Interior Minister Tatjana Bobnar pledged to never cross the line between police and politics as she spoke to the press after she took over from her predecessor Aleš Hojs. Bobnar said she was well aware of the line as an ex-police commissioner. She promised to work for the benefit of police officers and citizens. Meanwhile, the new acting police commissioner, Boštjan Lindav, announced he would make some staff changes but did not disclose any names yet.
US religious freedom report notes pending requests in Slovenia
WASHINGTON, US - The US Office of International Religious Freedom published its 2021 religious freedom report, noting religious communities' concerns in Slovenia about several loopholes and pending requests, including those related to halal meals, male circumcision and a lack of certain religious staff in the military. The report cites the results of a study by the Slovenian NGO Peace Institute which found that 41% of respondents who identified as religious minorities reported experiencing discrimination based on their faith. Orthodox Christians and Muslims reported the highest number of incidents.
Religious dignitaries congratulate Golob
LJUBLJANA - Andrej Saje, Bishop of Novo Mesto and head of the Slovenian Bishops' Conference, and Mufti Nevzet Porić, the head of the Islamic community in Slovenia, congratulated new Prime Minister Robert Golob on his appointment and forming the new government. Saje said he hoped for constructive cooperation in maintaining peace, justice, solidarity and religious freedom. Porić said he was looking forward to meeting and cooperating with Golob, adding: "I believe you will unite people during your term."
Caritas Slovenia raises over EUR 3m for Ukraine
LJUBLJANA - Caritas Slovenia has so far raised more than EUR 3 million in aid for Ukraine in what is the biggest humanitarian campaign dedicated to a foreign country in Slovenia's history. The organisation, which has so far sent 20 shipments totalling 283 tonnes of aid to the war-stricken country, said the need for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine was growing by the day. People currently need psychosocial support and assistance with logistics the most.
Collective lawsuits filed against 11 banks over zero floor
LJUBLJANA - The NGO Zavod Kolektiv 99 has filed 11 collective lawsuits on behalf of consumers against banks over the zero-floor clause in their loan agreements, meaning that if the reference Euribor rate is negative, it is deemed to be zero. As part of the lawsuits filed against Addiko bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, BKS Bank, Deželna Banka Slovenije, Delavska Hranilnica, Gorenjska Banka, NLB, Nova KBM, N Banka, SKB and Unicredit Banka Slovenija, they demand EUR 159 million in damages and interests on late payment. The arguments of consumers are based on valid Slovenian regulations, Zavod Kolektiv 99 said.
No Covid deaths on Wednesday
LJUBLJANA - The number of new daily coronavirus infections recorded in Slovenia on Wednesday dropped by 15% compared to a week ago to 286 cases. No deaths were reported. Currently, 36 Covid patients are at regular Covid wards and three in intensive care, according to the Health Ministry. The 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 of the population dropped to 192 and the 7-day average of cases to 239.
Third case of monkeypox confirmed in Slovenia
LJUBLJANA - After the first two cases of monkeypox were confirmed in Slovenia about a week ago, the National Institute of Public Health said three infections had been confirmed so far. The first case was confirmed on 24 May in a man who returned from the Canary Islands. The patient developed symptoms after arriving in Slovenia, but was said to be feeling fine. A day later, another case was reported, also in a person who arrived from Spain.
Brussels approves Slovenia's EUR 8m freight transport scheme
BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission has approved Slovenia's EUR 8 million scheme to encourage freight transport to shift from road to rail and to remove technical barriers to interoperability. The money will come from the Recovery and Resilience Facility. In explaining its decision, the Commission said the measure is to benefit both the environment and mobility. "The aid will have an 'incentive effect' as the beneficiaries would not carry out the investments in the absence of the public support."
Late author Pahor remembered at commemoration in Trieste
TRIESTE, Italy - A commemoration was held on Wednesday evening at the National Hall in Trieste to pay tribute to late Slovenian author Boris Pahor, who died aged 108 in Trieste on Monday. Slovenian President Borut Pahor remembered him as a "stubborn and strong-willed person with a clearly developed moral compass, a man who embodied the resistance against all three totalitarianisms". The city of Maribor meanwhile opened today a book of condolences for Boris Pahor, noting that the writer was made into a freeman of Maribor in 2010. The writer will be laid to rest next Tuesday at St Ana Cemetery in Trieste.
Drama Ljubljana to have 13 new productions next season
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's leading theatre, SNG Drama Ljubljana, announced the opening of 13 new productions in the season starting in the autumn. The first to premiere on the main stage will be Prometheus '22, an international co-production based on Ayshil's Prometheus Bound and directed by Romanian Gabor Tompa. In a return to a post-Covid normality productions will feature a larger number of actors and ties with theatres abroad are being re-established.
Eva Petrič puts her ISS space exhibit on show in New York
NEW YORK, US - An exhibition of works by Slovenian artist Eva Petrič opened at New York's gallery Mizuma & Kips on Wednesday, with the main exhibit being a miniature Earthling Tattoo Seal, actually its copy since the original is currently on show at the International Space Station. Petrič contributed two items - Earthling Tattoo Seal in acrylic glass, and DBE - Message from Earth in a clay cube, a collaboration with designer Mateja Š. Dimic. The Recycling Earthlings show is on until 26 June.
