News roundup - Friday, 7 June, until 3pm

NLB publishes takeover bid for Addiko Bank

LJUBLJANA - NLB, Slovenia's leading bank, published a voluntary takeover bid for the Austrian Addiko Bank. It is offering EUR 20 per share, reduced by the amount of any dividend between the announcement of the bid and settlement, which values the bank at EUR 390 million. NLB wants to acquire at least 75% of all Addiko Bank stock and will present the details of its offer at a webcast on Monday, according to the announcement that comes three weeks after the bank published a preliminary takeover intent.

Early EU election voting turnout at 3.7%

LJUBLJANA - As the early voting for Sunday's EU election and three referendums concluded on Thursday, the turnout across the three days was at 3.7%, double the early voting turnout in the 2019 EU election. In the three days of early voting 59,097 people cast votes in the EU elections and 58,981 in the assisted dying referendum, the National Electoral Commission (DVK) said. On Thursday alone 1.2% of voters cast their vote.

Slovenians in Bosnia to vote in EU election without country's consent

LJUBLJANA - Slovenians with permanent residence in Bosnia-Herzegovina will be able to cast their ballots in EU election and referendums on Sunday at the Slovenian Embassy in Sarajevo, despite the Bosnian government's failure to give Slovenia, Poland and Romania the go-ahead to organise EU elections at their respective embassies. The Foreign Ministry said, citing a decision of the National Electoral Commission, that Slovenian citizens with permanent residence in Bosnia-Herzegovina - nearly 1,980 are registered in a special electoral register - can vote at the Slovenian embassy in Sarajevo.

Judicial Council says court decision on salaries not enough

LJUBLJANA - The Judicial Council welcomed the Constitutional Court's decision to increase judicial salaries in line with inflation since 2012, which is roughly 26%, but stressed this is merely alignment with inflation rather than an actual raise. The council now expects the government to also raise the salaries as ordered by the court in 2023. The court's latest decision, announced on Wednesday, is implementable without any new legislation needed, the council said.

Ukraine, green transition main dividing points in TV Slovenija election debate

LJUBLJANA - The candidates topping the slates of the 11 lists standing in the upcoming EU election faced off in a debate hosted by RTV Slovenija on Thursday evening. Differences between them showed primarily over arms aid to Ukraine and the importance of the green transition. A major topic was the protection of the EU border vs free transit within the bloc, with the participants agreeing that the EU should be free of internal borders and that its external border should be shut.

Parties largely unsatisfied with EU Commission's work

LJUBLJANA - The parties and lists standing in the EU elections are divided in their opinions on the past work of the EU commission, Slovenia's future commissioner and desired portfolio. Most parties are unwilling to work or form a coalition with the far-right parties.

NSi expects to help ensure centre-right's election victory

LJUBLJANA - New Slovenia (NSi) is ending its EU election campaigning with optimism, its leader and lead candidate Matej Tonin said ahead of the election blackout that sets in on Saturday. With a good result the NSi will ensure that Slovenian centre-right parties win the election and that the EU takes a different course, said Tonin, who stressed that the party expects to win one MEP seat while a good turnout of its supporters could also lead to a surprise.

Chamber expects govt to stop fuel price regulation

LJUBLJANA - The Chamber of Commerce (TZS) said that further and tighter regulation of prices of petroleum products will hamper the development and green transition of petroleum companies by making it more difficult for them to invest, adding that it hopes the government will soften the relevant decree set to enter into force on 18 June. The chamber believes the government should stop the price regulation completely. If the regulation is necessary, they propose the accounting period be shortened to seven days or kept at 14 days, instead of the proposed 28 days, TZS president Mariča Lah told the press.

Comprehensive renovation of Prešeren's home in Vrba to begin

VRBA - Culture Minister Asta Vrečko singed a contract for EUR 2.9 million renovation of the childhood home of poet France Prešeren (1800-1849) in Vrba. While access has so far only been possible to the main building, where Prešeren was born, the entire homestead is now to be turned into a modern museum complex. Vrečko noted on the occasion that Prešeren's home, visited by most Slovenians already in their childhood, holds an important place in Slovenia's cultural heritage, history and collective consciousness

Markovič wins European Press Prize with story on suffering of elderly

PRAGUE, Czech Republic - Nataša Markovič, a journalist and editor of the investigative news portal Preiskovalno.si, has won the European Press Prize for her "We Have Betrayed a Generation" feature story, which explores the social exclusion of the elderly and the neglect they suffer in care homes. Markovič, who was conferred the honour on Thursday, won the prize in the Public Discourse category, which is reserved for "remarkable textual interpretations of the world we live in".

Slovenian artist wins Grand Prize at Toyama glass exhibition

NAGOYA, Japan - Slovenian artist Tanja Pak has received the Grand Prize for her work Reverie at the 2024 Toyama International Glass Exhibition in Japan. Her work will be exhibited in the Toyama Glass Art Museum from 13 July to 14 October and will become part of the permanent collection. Pak's work was selected for the highest award among 785 artworks by 580 artists from 50 countries. Around 50 works will be featured at the exhibition.