IMF downgrades Slovenia's 2022 growth forecast to 3.7%

WASHINGTON, US - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) downgraded its economic growth projection for Slovenia in its latest World Economic Outlook, with the country's GDP projected to increase by 3.7% this year and by 3% in 2023, a downgrade of 0.9 and 0.6 percentage points, respectively, from last October. The main reason is Russia's invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions, a development that has set back the post-pandemic recovery. The IMF also raised its projection of Slovenia's inflation, which is now expected to run at 6.7% this year, up from 1.8% in October. It is projected to slow marginally to 5.1% in 2023.

Janša highlights govt record at party convention

MEDVODE - PM Janez Janša, the leader of the Democrats (SDS), highlighted his party's track record in government and its stimulus policies, and rebuked the opposition, as he addressed SDS members at a convention, the party's last major event before polling day. "We don't work miracles, we do what we are capable of doing, sometimes more than that, but we do not perform miracles," he said. The convention featured a guest appearance by Manfred Weber, chair of the European People's Party (EPP) and a video address by Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki.

European People's Party endorses SDS, NSi

LJUBLJANA/MEDVODE - Manfred Weber, chair of the European People's Party (EPP) in the European Parliament, endorsed the Democrats (SDS) and New Slovenia (NSi) as he came to Slovenia, just days before the official end of the campaign for Sunday's general election. Appearing at the SDS convention, Weber said the SDS had friends and partners all over Europe standing by its side. He delivered a similar message in talks with NSi leader Matej Tonin, who said the country had made "notable progress" under this government in the last two years and had a "positive impact on the lives of the people."

High turnout urged as early voting starts

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor cast his vote today in early voting for the 24 April general election, joining civil society organisations and prominent politicians in urging citizens to exercise their right to vote. "Exercise the right to directly influence the future of our country," Pahor said after casting his ballot in Ljubljana, adding that each vote was an invaluable building block of democracy conveying people's expectations about the direction of Slovenia's development.

First ever life sentence in Slovenia quashed

MARIBOR - The Maribor Higher Court quashed the December 2021 ruling sentencing to life in prison Silvo Drevenšek, who pleaded guilty to murdering his former spouse and her parents in front of his four-year-old son on Christmas Eve 2020. The first life sentence since such penalty was reintroduced to the Slovenian criminal code in 2008 was annulled because the first instance-ruling was taken by a panel of six rather than five judges at the Ptuj District Court. The higher court ordered a retrial.

Maribor mayor accused of assaulting a teen

LJUBLJANA - Maribor Mayor Saša Arsenovič has been accused by a father of a 13-year-old of attacking his son and causing him light injuries. The father turned to Večer with the story, saying that on Easter Sunday Mayor Arsenovič attacked his son after he and a group of other children took some used tennis balls from a garbage can near a tennis court. Arsenovič said he had responded to vandalism. "Because this was clear vandalism I responded and warned the teenagers not to destroy other people's property."

Questions raised over hotel bill payment for agriculture minister

LJUBLJANA - Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek has become the target of media scrutiny after a report that he did not pay for a weekend stay at an upscale hotel in Bohinj. The anti-graft watchdog has launched a preliminary inquiry into potential ethics breaches, while Podgoršek himself claims he is being blackmailed and has reported the matter to the police. The stay was allegedly paid by KŽK, a company owning vast farmland in Gorenjska that has been in a dispute with the Farmland Fund.

Police union files criminal complaint against interior minister

LJUBLJANA - One of the two trade unions of Slovenian police officers has filed a criminal complaint against Interior Minister Aleš Hojs and a Robert Kos, the director for organisation and staff at the police, for alleged obstruction of union activity in the force and abuse of office. The Police Trade Union of Slovenia claims both Hojs and Kos had since the start of the year intentionally violated provisions of the collective agreement for the police that govern the conditions for trade union activity.

Environmental NGO presents study against Krško N-plant

KOPER - A study commissioned by the Italian parliament and presented by a Slovenian environmental NGO advises against extending the lifespan of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant (NEK), the only such facility in Slovenia. The report by experts in neotectonics and applied seismology finds that NEK's core was built for 0.3 ground acceleration, whereas new plants are built for 0.6-0.8 ground acceleration, Franc Malečkar from Alpe Adria Green told the press. A quake of such intensity hit the NEK area in 1917.

Million euros in EU funds approved for Roma education

LJUBLJANA - The Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy approved EUR 1.032 million in EU funds to finance a project promoting flexible forms of learning and supporting quality career guidance for school-age Roma children and youth at all levels of education. As part of the Multi-Purpose Roma Centres as Innovative Learning Environments project, the Centre for School and Extra-Curricular Activities will strengthen the competences, skills and knowledge of Roma children.

Coronavirus figures continue to decline

LJUBLJANA - A total of 457 new coronavirus infections were confirmed in Slovenia on Monday, which is in line with the steady decline in cases seen in recent weeks. Four people died, as the number of patients in intensive care due to Covid-19 remained stable. The National Institute of Public Health estimates there are still some 19,400 active cases in the country.

Special district to link Nova Gorica and Gorizia

NOVA GORICA/GORIZIA, Italy - A techno-cultural urban quarter will link the border cities of Nova Gorica in Slovenia and Gorizia in Italy before they host the 2025 European Capital of Culture in what is an upgrade of the initial plan to strengthen ties between the two cities. The investment will expand from the initial Europe Square idea to encompass a bigger area between the two cities. About three kilometres long, it will host the Green Technology Centre, a hub supporting SMEs, and new university facilities.

Ombudsman calls for greater inclusion of persons with disabilities

LJUBLJANA - Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina noted the problems that persons with disabilities are faced with in a message marking Slovenian Day of Paraplegics and Tetraplegics. There is a lack of appropriate housing, jobs and rehabilitation treatment, he said, while welcoming efforts by the national railway operator to make transportation more accessible. Svetina also met representatives of the Association of Paraplegics to discuss the most burning issues, such as poor accessibility of facilities.

Cedevita Olimpija makes it to q-finals of EuroCup Basketball

LJUBLJANA - Cedevita Olimpija made it to the quarter-finals of the EuroCup Basketball by defeating Türk Telekom of Turkey 93:80 in Stožice Arena in what is the greatest achievement for the club in recent years. The home team was led by swingman Jaka Blažič with 20 points, with centre Alen Omić adding 15 points and 16 rebounds. The club formed with the merger of Cedevita from Zagreb and Petrol Olimpija from Ljubljana in 2019 will now play the winner of Partizan-Frutti Extra Bursaspor matchup on 26 or 27 April.

Festival celebrates Slovenian contemporary music

LJUBLJANA - The 36th Slovenian Music Days, a week-long series of concerts dedicated to contemporary Slovenian music, starts at the Cankarjev Dom arts and congress centre tonight. The opening concert will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the cultural association Glasbena Matica Ljubljana and will feature former students of the Ljubljana Academy of Music who have become well-known soloists. The festival will also feature a two-day international musicological symposium on music associations in the 19th century.

Festival showing rediscovered horror film

LJUBLJANA - This year's Festival of Genre Film at Kinodvor cinema and Slovenian Cinematheque is dedicated to film soleil, an offshoot of film noir. The week-long festival will get under way tonight with a screening of John Sturges's 1955 film Bad Day at Black Rock, a fusion of western and film noir. Another highlight will be a screening of The Amusement Park, the rediscovered and newly-restored 1973 masterpiece by the horror visionary George A. Romero.