News roundup - Wednesday, 10 January

Justice delayed as govt fails to appease underpaid judges

LJUBLJANA - Hearings in most litigation and commercial cases as well in a number of criminal cases were cancelled in courts as judges began a two-week strike over the government's failure to implement a Constitutional Court ruling declaring judges' salaries inadequate. Statements by judicial and government representatives accompanying the strike start indicated chances are slim for a quick solution to the issue that escalated after the expiration of the top court's 3 January deadline for securing the principle of judicial independence and of the division of power. Justice Minister Dominika Švarc Pipan said the ruling would be implemented as soon as possible.

Unions signing on for indexation of public sector wages

LJUBLJANA - Roughly half of public sector trade unions signed a recently initialled agreement with the the government in line with which wages will be adjusted in June to 80% of the rise in inflation in 2023. Signing by the majority of unions by the end of the month is needed for the deal - labelled by both sides a good sign ahead of the crucial round of talks on the general public sector pay reform - to be wrapped up. Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič, who led the talks, spoke of weeks and months of hard work ahead for the negotiators in the coming months, and noted the government would make sure the negotiations were substantive from the get-go.

Minister-designate Čalušić to focus on food security, farming profession

LJUBLJANA - Agricultural and food security, backed with efforts for sustainable forms of farming and for greater feasibility and appeal of the profession, will be in the focus of the likely new agriculture minister Mateja Čalušić, who had her confirmation hearing before the relevant parliamentary committee. The MP for the ruling Freedom Movement, who is expected to be appointed by the National Assembly on Friday after being backed in a 9:6 vote today, said she sees "agricultural and food security as the cornerstone of any country's existence". The 36-year-old vice-chair of the parliamentary Agriculture Committee highlighted the inadequate income of farmers as one of the main reasons for the lacking development of Slovenian agriculture and the below-average number of young people in the profession.

Slovenia regrets Security Council veto use on Gaza

NEW YORK, US - Slovenia joined a number of United Nations members on Tuesday in expressing opposition to the use of veto on the Security Council when it comes to resolutions about Gaza. "We welcome the adoption of two UN Security Council resolutions on specific aspects of the crisis, but the steps taken so far have not been enough. We therefore regret the use of veto," Slovenian Ambassador Boštjan Malovrh told the debate at the UN General Assembly.

Left condemns Israeli Embassy's invitation to screening of Hamas's attack

LJUBLJANA - The coalition party Left and unaffiliated MP Mojca Šetinc Pašek condemned the invitation the Israeli Embassy extended to the members of the parliamentary group of friendship with Israel to the screening of a footage of Hamas's attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. The screening was scheduled to be held at the Jewish Centre in Ljubljana, which said it had subsequently become the target of threats and announced that the event had been cancelled due to technical difficulties. Ambassador Zeev Boker later presented the footage to the group at a private meeting that was not attended by the coalition members, New Slovenia (NSi) MP Iva Dimic told the N1 news portal.

Slovenia condemns transfer of N Korean missiles used in Ukraine attack

NEW YORK, US - Slovenia joined a group of nearly 50 countries on Tuesday in condemning the sale of North Korean missiles to Russia which were then used against Ukraine on 30 December and 2 January. The statement was signed, among others, by the US, UK and several EU member states, as well as the EU. "The transfer of these weapons increases the suffering of the Ukrainian people, supports Russia's war of aggression, and undermines the global non-proliferation regime," the statement reads.

FURS collects 7% more taxes in 2023 y/y

LJUBLJANA - The Financial Administration (FURS) collected EUR 22.5 billion in taxes last year, which was EUR 1.5 billion (7%) more than in 2022 and EUR 3.3 billion (17.2%) more than in 2021. The amount collected was the highest in six years, FURS said, adding that tax debt continued to shrink. Social security contributions, which make up the bulk of revenue and most of which are paid to ZPIZ and ZZZS and to a small extent to the state budget, increased by 8.7% to EUR 9.2 billion.

Retailer Mercator raises employees' wages

LJUBLJANA - The largest employer and biggest retailer in the country, Mercator, raised its employees' gross base pay from 1 January. An average increase reached 7%, while the rate exceeded 10% for the most common jobs in sales and logistics, the retailer said. For sales, commission agent and driver jobs, accounting for almost half of the workforce, the gross base wage increased from EUR 1,100 to EUR 1,270. Mercator, which employs some 8,400 people, is expected to spend an additional EUR 18 million on labour costs this year due to the raise.

Fajon and Drexler discuss Slovenia-Styria cooperation projects

CELJE - As a session of the Slovenia-Styria joint committee chaired by Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon and Styria Governor Christopher Drexler was held, the two discussed a number of cooperation projects, including an effort to open a Slovenian centre in Graz within two to three years. Several cooperation projects in tourism, culture, business and public administration were discussed during the session. The ministers stressed the importance of economic cooperation, as Austria is a major economic partner of Slovenia. This is particularly true for Styria, where 15,000 Slovenians commute daily for work, according to some estimates.

Industrial output down in November

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's industrial production contracted by 0.8% year-on-year in November, even as it expanded by 3.7% on the month before, show the latest Statistics Office data. Output contracted by 23.4% in electricity, steam and gas supply and by 0.4% in manufacturing. In mining it rose by 14.3%. Sales revenue contracted at a slower pace, by just 0.1%, as revenue increased by 4.3% in manufacturing and 4.4% in mining.

Economists cautious about tax reform plans

LJUBLJANA - The government plans to present a long delayed tax reform proposal in early spring. Although the details of the blueprint have not been presented yet, several economists expressed scepticism at a debate organised by Economic Circle, a grouping of 15 business associations. Ljubljana School of Economics and Business professor Mojmir Mrak said the government should not rush things at the expense of quality, warning that a serious tax reform cannot be prepared in three months as announced by the prime minister. Tax reform should go hand in hand with pension reform, said Mrak, though he noted this was not likely.

Luka Koper officially opens new lorry terminal

KOPER - The port operator Luka Koper inaugurated a lorry terminal in the Sermin area of the port. The new terminal, which has been in commission since the start of the year, has 203 parking spots and cost EUR 13 million to build. One of the operator's major investments, the EU co-funded upgrade is an important milestone in Luka Koper's development, the operator's chairwoman Nevenka Kržan said at the inauguration ceremony. The old lorry terminal, which is located closer to Koper city centre, has been decommissioned, a development that is expected to reduce traffic in the area. Another shopping centre is to be built on the site.

Pečečnik fails to rescue Prekmurje clothing company

LJUBLJANA - Half a year after acquiring a majority stake in a struggling clothing company in the north-eastern region of Prekmurje, businessman Joc Pečečnik announced that Moda Mi&Lan will go into receivership due to lack of staff. Within two years, more than 50% of the company's roughly 100 employees will have retired, and within 48 months that figure will have increased to 75%, while there is no qualified new staff to be hired. Zdenka Bobovec of the ZSSS trade union confederation said that the "employees were very, very surprised, even shocked" by the announcement.

Peter Ribarič appointed chief supervisor of STA

LJUBLJANA - The recently appointed new five-member supervisory board of the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) held its maiden session and picked Peter Ribarič, an IT expert, as the chief supervisor. Ribarič is the director of Planet GV, which is specialised in organising business events, and a managing director at Silicon Gardens Fund, an early-stage venture capital fund, according to his Linkedin profile. After the session, Ribarič stressed the importance of the STA, describing it as an institution of broader social significance. Media expert Jure Brankovič was appointed the board's deputy chair among the four members of the board appointed on 19 December by parliament.

Mayor of flood-hit town declared Delo's person of the year

LJUBLJANA - Romana Lesjak, the mayor of Črna na Koroškem, one of the municipalities worst hit by last year's floods, was declared Delo's Person of the Year 2023 at a ceremony hosted by the newspaper publisher, which said that the way she handled the calamity showed people how to lead a community in difficult times. In the wake of the disaster, the mayor became the symbol of hope, resilience and courage, Delo said. Prior to the ceremony, Delo also declared the Achievement of the Year 2023, an honour which went to Matjaž Kek, the head coach of the national men's football team, which last year qualified for a Euro for the first time since 2010.

President Pirc Musar national vice-champion in bowling

LJUBLJANA - President Nataša Pirc Musar has finished second in the national bowling championships in the mixed teams, after winning the national title in the doubles last year. Pirc Musar played alongside Žiga Zalar, Tim Cerkvenik Muzafirovič and Victoria Krivolutskaya in the competition, which took place over the first two weekends of the year, the Slovenian Bowling Federation said on Tuesday.

Film about missing sailor shows price of adventures

LJUBLJANA - A film tracing the lives of Slovenian long-distance sailor Jure Šterk, who disappeared 15 years ago during a sailing trip around the world, and his wife and son premiered in Ljubljana's Kinodvor cinema on Tuesday. The autobiographical drama lifts the veil on the toll Šterk's adventures took on his family. Šterkijada is an intimate portrait of the Šterk family written and directed by the sailor's son, Igor Šterk.

Melania Trump's mother dies

MIAMI, US - Amalija Knavs, the mother of Melania Trump, has died aged 78. The Slovenian-born former US first lady announced the news on X, expressing "deep sadness". She said her mother was "a strong woman who always carried herself with grace, warmth, and dignity. She was entirely devoted to her husband, daughters, grandson, and son-in-law. We will miss her beyond measure and continue to honor and love her legacy".