News roundup - Saturday, 8 July

Minister says time ripe for comprehensive long-term care

LJUBLJANA - Minister for a Solidarity-Based Future Simon Maljevac discussed long-term care in an interview with the STA saying that after a wait of over 20 years time was ripe to pass the relevant law and provide "comprehensive care for everybody all the way to their grave". If no changes are made or the system is left to the private sector, the costs will only go up. He said the bill, which is to expected to be discussed by parliament next week, was also addressing the high prices of nursing homes.

Majority in Delo poll in favour of proportionate health contribution

LJUBLJANA - More than six out of ten (63.8%) in a poll run by Delo believe that the supplementary health insurance, which will become a mandatory fee starting from 2024, should be levied according to the person's income rather in a flat amount for everyone. Nearly half of those questioned (48.7%) believe there will be no change to accessibility of health services after the legislative changes were passed earlier this week to transform the top-up-health insurance from a voluntary contribution, so far collected by commercial insurers, into a mandatory fee pooled in the public health insurance fund.

Culture minister meets Croatian counterpart in Zagreb

ZAGREB, Croatia - Culture Minister Asta Vrečko met with her Croatian counterpart Nina Obuljen Koržinek in Zagreb on Friday to discuss cooperation in performing arts and film, as well as issues related to succession to the former Yugoslavia. They talked about re-establishing exhibition premises of the former federation in the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum, and the renovation of the Kampor memorial park on the Croatian island of Rab, which was built in 1953 to a design by Slovenian architect Edvard Ravnikar.

Violence against LGBTIQ+ people condemned in parliament

LJUBLJANA - Coalition MPs and officials who took part in a session of the Commission for Petitions, Human Rights and Equal Opportunities on Friday condemned homophobia and transphobia and violence reported around the 17 June Ljubljana Pride Parade in the strongest terms. No opposition MP attended the session. The commission called on the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities to draw up a national strategy for equality of LGBTIQ+ persons, which the ministry plans to do in 2024.

Avant Car to continue expanding electric car sharing system

LJUBLJANA - Avant Car runs Slovenia's biggest electric car sharing system, Avant2Go, with a fleet of 500 fully electric vehicles. Director Matej Čer told the STA that additional locations and vehicles will be added in Slovenia to ensure broad coverage and meet the needs of users. Together with Croatia and North Macedonia, Avant Car has a fleet of about 3,500 vehicles and employs a 150-strong workforce. Last year overall revenue reached EUR 30 million.

Luka Dončić gets engaged

BLED - Slovenia's basketball superstar Luka Dončić got engaged to his long-time girlfriend Anamaria Goltes, announcing the news on his Instagram profile. The 24-year-old Dallas Mavericks point guard shared a romantic picture of him getting down on his knee before his girlfriend at Bled, the Slovenian lakeside resort. Dončić picked the date of the engagement, 7 July, to match his jersey number 77.