News roundup - Saturday, 15 April

Caravan maker Carthago launches new plant in Ormož

ORMOŽ - German-owned caravan maker Carthago inaugurated its factory in Ormož in northeastern Slovenia. The new facility, where the company will be making Malibu Van camper vans, will create at least 80 new jobs, and the plan is to gradually expand capacities in the future, said Carthago director Sandra Županec. The EUR 50 million investment is another proof that Slovenia is attractive to foreign direct investment, President Nataša Pirc Musar told the event.

Minister says conscientious objection may be introduced for state attorneys

LJUBLJANA - Justice Minister Dominika Švarc Pipan told the newspaper Dnevnik in an interview that her ministry was considering introducing the institute of conscientious objection for state attorneys to strengthen the autonomy of the State Attorneys Office. She also spoke about the planned reform of the judicial network, shortages of judges and prosecutors, and the plan to codify femicide as a crime.

Survey shows majority in favour of abolition of top-up insurance

LJUBLJANA - A recent survey commissioned by the newspaper Dnevnik suggests that nearly 65% of Slovenians support the abolition of top-up health insurance in favour of the new EUR 35 mandatory contribution per month. Some 25% of participants are not in favour of this move, and more than 10% are undecided. The supporters of the Left are most in favour of the abolition as all of them who participated in the poll expressed their support for the proposal.

Chocolate lovers invited to Radovljica this weekend

RADOVLJICA - Radovljica, a medieval town in north-western Slovenia, has in the past decade evolved into the Slovenian capital of chocolate. This weekend it hosts the 10th Chocolate Festival, which is expected to attract 20,000 chocolate lovers. Visitors are urged to come by bus or train. The festival will present 23 boutique chocolate shops, including two from Italy and Croatia, in the town's main square.