News roundup - Wednesday, 3 May

Slovenia up four spots in World Press Freedom Index

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia gained four spots in the latest World Press Freedom Index, published annually by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), to rank 50th among 180 countries. The step-up means the country is no longer among those deemed problematic as Slovenia again joins countries with a satisfactory situation in journalism. Pavol Szalai, head of the RSF's EU and Balkans desk, said the situation in Slovenia was mixed. On the one hand, the new government put a stop to the previous government's hostility towards journalists, but on the other hand, the pressure exerted on public service media goes on, he said.

Journalists stress importance of professional journalism

LJUBLJANA - Journalist representatives, in particular from the ranks of public broadcaster RTV Slovenija and the Slovenian Press Agency (STA), marked World Press Freedom Day with a gathering at which they highlighted the role of journalists in promoting democracy and human rights. They noted the importance of professional standards and of conditions needed to maintain them. The public meeting was held in front of RTV Slovenija, most of whose journalists have been on strike for almost a year.

President receives five new ambassadors

LJUBLJANA - The newly appointed ambassadors of North Macedonia, Cyprus, Monaco, Ecuador and Algeria presented their credentials to President Nataša Pirc Musar at Presidential Palace in Ljubljana. Macedonian Ambassador Goran Milevski is the only one based in Ljubljana. Ecuador's Miguel Falconi Puig and Monaco's Anne Marie Eastwood are both based in Rome, Cyprus's Maria Michail in Vienna and Algeria's Abdelhafid Alahoum in Budapest.

Slovenia expresses condolences over Serbia school shooting

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian president, prime minister and the Foreign Ministry expressed condolences to the relatives of the victims of today's school shooting in the Serbian capital of Belgrade in which a 13-year-old pupil killed eight schoolchildren and a security guard, injuring several more. "I am deeply shaken by the shooting at the Belgrade primary school," President Nataša Pirc Musar tweeted, wishing good recovery to the injured and a lot of life strength to the girl who is fighting for her life in hospital. Condolences, shock and sadness were also expressed by PM Robert Golob and the Foreign Ministry.

New mass rally sees pensioners criticise government, president

LJUBLJANA - The fourth monthly mass rally led by civil society groups being associated with the Democrats (SDS) was held in Ljubljana, this time also taking several thousands protesters in front of the presidential and government palaces. They again demanded higher pensions, accused the government of arrogance and demanded its resignation. The protesters also took issue with a bill drawn by an NGO to legalise assisted suicide, urging President Nataša Pirc Musar to remove as her adviser Biserka Marolt Meden, who was involved in the drafting of the bill. Pirc Musar described the call as unacceptable.

Constitutional Court voids part of real estate mass valuation act

LJUBLJANA - The Constitutional Court annulled a part of the Real Property Mass Valuation Act due to vagueness in a provision laying down the quality of data used in valuation models. Annulled was paragraph 2 of Article 12 which says that data on market selling prices and rents which cannot be explained by current characteristics of the market and market trends must not be used in valuation models. The article was one of several challenged by a group of MPs led by New Slovenia four years ago.

Survey: Journalists prioritize their role in society over pay

LJUBLJANA - A survey on working conditions of journalists and other media workers in Slovenia has shown that a large majority prioritizes their role in society over personal interests and 78% see responsibility to the public as a key aspect of journalism. Released by the Slovenian Union of Journalists on World Press Freedom Day, the survey was conducted among 292 respondents, 80% of whom were union members. Almost half of them work for RTV Slovenija.

MPs urge broad debate on bear population management

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary committees on the environment and agriculture met for a joint session to discuss the management of brown bear population on behest of the opposition party New Slovenia (NSi). Instead of supporting the party's proposal to call on the government to implement the decision issued by the Ministry for Natural Resources and Spatial Planning on the culling of 230 brown bears this year, the majority on the committees urged the government to form a substantive platform for a broad public debate on the issue. Minister Uroš Brežan said so far 158 bears had been culled based on the decision.

Italian arrested as part of raids on 'Ndrangheta

NOVA GORICA - Slovenian police arrested a 35-year-old Italian citizen in the area of Nova Gorica near Italy as part of 150 coordinated raids in eight European countries targetting the Italian 'Ndrangheta organised crime syndicate. The Nova Gorica Police Department said the Italian is suspected of being involved in drug trafficking and other related crimes that 'Nndrangheta is being investigated for. A total of 132 suspects were detained in eight countries as part of the Europol operation, most of them in Italy.

Ribnica to get new inter-generational sports hub

RIBNICA - A new intergenerational sports complex spanning some 4,500 square metres will be erected in Ribnica in the south of the country. Mayor Samo Pogorelc announced the construction is to begin this month. Located at the site of the former Center Ideal, a complex of the Yugoslav People's Army turned shopping centre that has been closed and derelict for years, the new centre will be a bustling tourism, sports and cultural meeting spot. The EUR 11.8 million project is expected to be finalised in 2025.