News roundup - Tuesday, 27 February

Slovenia not willing to send troops to Ukraine

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia joined Western countries in distancing itself from French President Emmanuel Macron's suggestion that Western allies could send troops to help Ukraine. There are no preparations under way in Slovenia to deploy troops to Ukraine and no consensus on the issue at the EU level, the prime minister's office said, underlining that Slovenia was not preparing for such a step.

Slovenia welcomes Hungary's endorsement of Sweden's NATO membership

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Robert Golob welcomed the decision by the Hungarian parliament to ratify Sweden's membership in NATO, describing it as an important step towards an even more important and stronger alliance. The Foreign Ministry also welcomed the decision. It saying that Sweden's membership in NATO will strengthen the alliance and the security of its members.

Pirc Musar notes efforts to boost economic cooperation with Bulgaria

SOFIA, Bulgaria - President Nataša Pirc Musar highlighted the importance of further efforts to strengthen economic cooperation between Slovenia and Bulgaria as she paid an official visit to the country. She hopes Bulgaria will soon meet the criteria for joining the euro area. Hopeful that Bulgaria will soon fulfil the conditions for joining the euro area, she said the euro was good for business, including tourism, and citizens, she said.

Coalition highlights experience of justice minister nominee

LJUBLJANA - The coalition parties welcomed the nomination of Andreja Katič as justice minister given that she already served as minister in 2018-2020. They expect that she will be able to immediately tackle the many challenges in the department. The opposition expects Katič to restore the reputation of the ministry.

Judicial reps praise Katič's experience, expect pay raise implementation

LJUBLJANA - Judicial organisations responded favourably to the nomination of Andreja Katič for justice minister, stressing she had already served in the past and should be able to secure a smooth transition. They expect respect for judicial independence and the addressing of the pay raise for judges and prosecutors as a matter of urgency. The Judges' Association wrote that Katič will honour the rule of law and push for the implementation of court rulings.

Farmers announce new protests

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian farmers plan to stage new protests. They held a meeting with agriculture and finance ministry officials concerning the tax status of direct payments for farming in less favoured areas, but said no progress had been achieved. "No concrete measures were pledged ... which is why organisations of farmers plan to step up pressure by organising protest activities," six organisations said in a joint statement.

Foreign doctors urge govt to make good on its promises

LJUBLJANA - The European Federation of Salaried Doctors (FEMS) and the Croatian doctors' trade union expressed their support for the ongoing doctors' strike in Slovenia. Jean-Paul Zerbib, a member of the FEMS management board, called on the government to honour its commitments and start listening to doctors. If the government does not make good on the promises it gave to doctors, its other promises are called into question as well, he said.

Prisons overcrowded as number of incarcerated foreigners increases

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian prisons have been overcrowded for years, but now they are virtually bursting at the seams, as the number of prisoners, especially foreigners caught smuggling migrants, has been increasing. The average prison occupancy rate tops 139%. The most crowded prison was the one in Ljubljana, where the occupancy rate is currently 201.48%.

Painter Andraž Šalamun dies aged 76

LJUBLJANA - One of the key Slovenian representatives of abstract art, painter and philosopher Andraž Šalamun has died at age 76.
He was best known as a member between 1966 and 1971 of OHO, a conceptual art group that existed in that era and left an indelible mark on Slovenia's artistic landscape.

Body of man suspected of murder in Vienna found in Slovenia

VIENNA, Austria - The body of a man suspected of having murdered his wife and daughter in Vienna last week has been recovered in Slovenia, where he apparently committed suicide in a forest, Austrian press agency APA reported. The body was found on Saturday but since the man did not have any identification on him, it took until today before he was identified as the suspected murder.