News roundup - Thursday, 5 September, until 3pm

First Slovenian-chaired Security Council session dedicated to Gaza

NEW YORK, US - The first UN Security Council session chaired by Slovenia this month was dedicated to the situation in Gaza, with Slovenian Ambassador Samuel Žbogar and other speakers reiterating calls for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. The session on Wednesday again ended without any decisions on the issue. Žbogar said that only a ceasefire would alleviate the suffering of hostages and their families as he again condemned Hamas's 7 October attack and the killing of hostages. He also urged an end to the violence of Israeli settlers in the West Bank.

Coalition stands by parliamentary speaker against SDS criticism

LJUBLJANA - All three coalition parties came out to defend National Assembly President Urška Klakočar Zupančič against the criticism the opposition Democrats (SDS) levelled at her for refusing to call a session at which a parliamentary inquiry into state-owned electricity companies, requested by both opposition parties, would be founded. She said the flaws pointed out by the parliament's legal service should be addressed first. Coalition MPs today rejected the criticism of abuse of office and of the violation of the constitution and the parliament's rules of procedure, while labelling the SDS's plan to file a criminal complaint against Klakočar Zupančič as political pressure.

SDS and NSi substitute MPs appointed instead of elected MEPs

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly appointed Andrej Poglajen and Franc Francisco Estanislao Medic as substitute MPs to replace Branko Grims of the Democrats (SDS) and Matej Tonin of New Slovenia (NSi), respectively, who were elected members of the European Parliament in the EU election in June. The substitute MPs were appointed as the post of a member of the Slovenian National Assembly is incompatible with the post of a member of the European Parliament.

Anti-graft watchdog issues recommendations to digit ministry over laptop purchase

LJUBLJANA - The Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (KPK) established a number of corruption risks in the Ministry of Digital Transformation's 2023 purchase of 13,000 laptops for poor primary school kids, the vast majority of which are still undistributed, issuing several recommendations to ensure that public procurement legislation is respected. The watchdog also detected suspicion of violation of public procurement legislation in signing an annex for another 3,000 laptops in addition to the initial 10,000, and thus sent the matter to the National Review Commission.

Labour NGO reports irregularities in sick leave suspensions by ZZZS

LJUBLJANA - The labour rights NGO Delavska Svetovalnica is dealing with many cases where people who had been injured were forced to return to work prematurely by doctors of the public health insurance company (ZZZS), the NGO's head Goran Lukić told the press. Their recuperation cut short, many see their health deteriorate further. The problem starts with employers, he said, also listing cases where doctors appointed by the ZZZS went against the specialist opinion. The NGO would use legal means available to it to take action against those responsible.

Regulator approves takeover bid for savings bank Lon

LJUBLJANA - The Competition Protection Agency approved on Wednesday the takeover bid by businessman Otmar Zorn and the companies Zorn Plus and GIC Gradnje for Hranilnica Lon, a small savings bank, assessing that it complies with the competition rules. The bid was published in the newspaper Delo on 10 August, with the bidders offering to pay EUR 75 per share, and the bid being valid until 8 October.

New intercity bus timetables draw a lot of public criticism

LJUBLJANA - The new timetables for intercity bus transportation introduced in September are facing a lot of criticism from the public, including that certain lines have been cancelled and that there are not enough buses. Some critics, including Roman Žveglič, the president of the Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry, say that the issues in rural areas, where public transportation is underdeveloped, have only gotten worse. Meanwhile, the Public Passenger Transport Management Company said that the new timetables were well prepared and accessibility increased, while admitting that there are certain issues at the start of the new school year.