News roundup - Saturday, 27 May

Roglič takes the lead at Giro

TARVISIO, Italy - Primož Roglič won the decisive penultimate stage of the Giro d'Italia to snatch the leader's jersey away from Briton Geraint Thomas, helped by massive support from Slovenian fans in the 18.6 km time trial up the Monte Lussari just across the border. The 33-year Slovenian Jumbo-Visma rider beat Thomas, the Ineos Grenadiers rider, by 40 seconds to gain a 14-second advantage ahead of the final flat stage in Rome. He is on course to become the first Slovenian to win this iconic Grand Tour race.

Presiding judge suggests excessive pressure on top court

LJUBLJANA - Matej Accetto, president of the Constitutional Court, commented on the decision to allow the amended RTV Slovenija Act to take effect for the public broadcaster late on Friday, suggesting the pressure on the court had become problematic. "There is clearly a desire to report up-to-date, almost live, on the work of the Constitutional Court, sometimes accurate information, sometimes inaccurate information, sometimes even completely fabricated information," which makes it difficult for the court to perform its mission. He called on everyone to take a step back.

Bipartisan line-up as Logar to start new association

LJUBLJANA - Anže Logar, the former foreign minister who now serves as an MP for the opposition Democrats (SDS), will start a new association on Wednesday with the newspaper Delo listing several prominent figures to feature at the founding event, affiliated with both the conservative and the liberal blocs. Earlier this week SDS leader Janez Janša said Logar's association was a welcome addition to the political arena, while New Slovenia (NSi) Matej Tonin said that Logar should form a political party. The NSi would then form a pre-election coalition with him to show a centre-right government without Janša was possible.

SocDems discuss internal tensions

LJUBLJANA - The Social Democrats (SD) saw an exchange over internal tensions as the party marked 30 years since the merger of several leftist parties into one in Ljubljana. Party leader Tanja Fajon argued the party needed to overcome internal turmoil and said she took all criticism as well-intentioned. Meanwhile, her critic, the leader of the party's MPs, Jani Prednik called on the party to take stock of its role in the government. He finds tensions necessary if the party is to find its way into the future.

NSi leader calls for responsible politics over divisions

GORIŠNICA - The Christian democratic party New Slovenia (NSi) held its annual get-together in NE Slovenia with party leader Matej Tonin accusing the government of trying to cover up absence of results with a culture war. He also criticised calls to civil war coming from the right. He believes Slovenia needs a balanced centre-right government, and that time will come when people look for a voice of reason, efficient solutions and those who unite in politics. The NSi will be the only logical choice then, he said.

Minority organisations urge govt to restore communism victims day

KLAGENFURT/Austria/TRIESTE, Italy - Two organisations representing the Slovenian ethnic communities in Austria and Italy have started a petition to call on the Slovenian government to restore National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Communism. The National Council of Carinthian Slovenians (NSKS) and the Council of Slovenian Organisations (SSO) find the government's decision to cancel the day was inappropriate. They started a petition urging the government to revoke the decision, which has been signed by almost 100 ethnic Slovenians in Austria and Italy.

Exhibition pays tribute to Friday's bicycle protests

LJUBLJANA - An exhibition was launched at the Cukrarna arts venue on Friday that captures some of the key moments and artefacts from the anti-government protests on bicycles that went on for 105 consecutive Fridays between 2020 and 2022. Running until 11 June, the exhibition showcases the most iconic of the artefacts, puppets, banners, innovative solutions, guerilla campaigns, protest songs and some key moments from the protests. It is accompanied by a book chronicling the protests and explaining the context.