News roundup - Tuesday, 2 July

SDS announces no-confidence vote in digital transformation minister

LJUBLJANA - The Democrats (SDS) announced a motion of no confidence in Digital Transformation Minister Emilija Stojmenova Duh after an audit report found a series of irregularities in the purchase of 13,000 budget laptops for underprivileged students. The Court of Audit designated the transaction as not being efficient or economical. The SDS said it was "helping" the minister in her decision whether or not she should resign. Stojmenova Duh survived a motion of no confidence over the same issue in March.

Slovenia delivers six drones to Montenegrin Armed Forces

PODGORICA, Montenegro - Slovenia has delivered six Belin-V drones to the Montenegrin Armed Forces in what is the first government-to-government deal in which a foreign country purchased military equipment from Slovenia. The deal, worth more than EUR 1 million, follows an agreement on cooperation in military reconnaissance and observation and aerial surveillance, signed by the defence ministries of the two countries last August, the Slovenian Defence Ministry announced.

Slovenia points to the risk of famine in Gaza

NEW YORK, US - As many as 96% of the population of the Gaza Strip faces severe food shortages, Slovenia's representative on the UN Security Council Samuel Žbogar told a meeting of the Council dedicated to the situation in the Middle East. He praised the work of Sigrid Kaag, the senior coordinator for humanitarian assistance and reconstruction in Gaza.

Ministry does not object Court of Audit's findings on Litijska building

LJUBLJANA - The Justice Ministry said that it did not object the draft report the Court of Audit in the part relating to the controversial acquisition of a dilapidated building in Ljubljana meant to house a number of courts, after TV Slovenija reported yesterday that the ministry rejected the findings. It said it could not possibly object to it as the entire knowledge of the deal of the leadership of the ministry, which took over after the scandal escalated, is based on the available documentation.

Minister tells mayors migration situation under control

LJUBLJANA - Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar met with representatives of associations of municipalities to talk about illegal migration. Poklukar said that the police had the situation under control and that more than 300 smugglers of migrants had been apprehended this year. The number of illegal crossings of the border is higher this year than in the comparable period last year, but Slovenia remains a transit country, the minister said.

Strike to be suspended at some administrative units, including Ljubljana's

LJUBLJANA - At least 18 administrative units have accepted a deal with the government to suspend the ongoing strike, including the Ljubljana unit, the largest in the country. Meanwhile, eight administrative units oppose the agreement and 20 are yet to reveal their position, the umbrella Trade Union of State Bodies told the STA.

Ljubljana councillors change rules preventing mass Tivoli park concert

LJUBLJANA - In a decision that seems to have been prompted by an environmental permit rejection of a planned mass concert in Ljubljana's Tivoli park by the pop star Magnifico, the Ljubljana city council amended on Monday a local ordinance governing procedures for public events in the Tivoli, Rožnik and Šika Hill Regional Park. The city councillors followed through with Mayor Zoran Janković's announcement that the ordinance would simply be changed so as to enable the 31 August event.

Parliamentary body discusses Brežice peer violence case

LJUBLJANA/BREŽICE - The Commission for Petitions, Human Rights and Equal Opportunities discussed the recent attack of a Roma student on his peer at a primary school in the Brežice municipality, peer violence and Roma issues. Since coalition MPs were absent during the debate, saying it should not focus on one specific case, no voting could take place on the proposed measures.

Huge crowd welcomes footballers after historic Euro appearance

LJUBLJANA - Several thousand people welcomed the Slovenian men's national football team in Ljubljana's Congress Square to celebrate Slovenia's first progression to knockout stages at major tournaments. The event was also an opportunity for footballers to thank the fans for their massive support. Slovenia failed to reach the Euro 2024 quarter-finals after a penalty shootout defeat against Portugal, but the historic first bodes well for the future.

Corruption risks detected in selection of Eurovision entrant

LJUBLJANA - The Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (KPK) has concluded its investigation of alleged irregularities in the selection of Raiven with her song Veronika as Slovenia's entrant for this year's Eurovision Song Contest, detecting corruption risks and issuing several recommendations to the public broadcaster RTV Slovenija. KPK said it could not confirm any suspicion of alleged influence or favouring the selected entrant on the basis of the available information.

Ljubljana park named in honour of lesbian couple

LJUBLJANA - A small park in the posh Ljubljana borough of Prule has been named in memory of a lesbian couple, poet Ada Škerl and translator Sonja Plaskan, the first time a public space in Slovenia will bear the name of homosexual individuals. The naming of the park confirms that Ljubljana is a "democratic and emancipated city that respects personal liberty and equality of individuals, regardless of their political, religious, ideological or sexual orientation," says the local decree passed by the city council on Monday evening.

EU report lauds Slovenia's progress in e-administration

BRUSSELS, Belgium/LJUBLJANA - The EU's Path to the Digital Decade report noted Slovenia's significant progress in e-administration and the high share of households with access to a fibre optic network. Last year Slovenia made progress particularly due to the implementation of the electronic ID scheme and e-healthcare results, the European Commission said as it presented the second Path to the Digital Decade report. The challenges remain the need to improve citizens' basic digital skills and step up SMEs' digitalisation efforts.

Pogačar wins stage 4 to reclaim Tour de France yellow jersey

GRENOBLE, France - Slovenia's cycling star Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) won stage four of this year's Tour de France to reclaim the yellow jersey of the overall leader. He left his rival Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) behind to earn the bonus seconds at the top of the Col du Galibier and following a daring descent soloed to the finish line.