News roundup - Wednesday, 11 September

Coalition asks for emergency committee session on new EU commissioner candidate

LJUBLJANA - Coalition deputy groups filed on Tuesday a request for an emergency session of the EU Affairs Committee to interview EU commissioner nominee Marta Kos, which they say should be held no later than Friday. The committee's chair Franc Breznik of the opposition Democrats (SDS) on the other hand insists the government must first provide reasons for replacing Tomaž Vesel. The hearing is part of Slovenia's procedure of EU commissioner nomination and a pre-requisite to finalise the nomination process.

Ministry unveils proposal banning dual practice in healthcare

LJUBLJANA - Health Minister Valentina Prevolnik Rupel announced a ban on physicians' dual practice, the phenomenon of public healthcare doctors performing additional work for private providers. Upon presenting the draft changes to stakeholders, the minister said the move was about preserving a universally accessible quality public healthcare. The proposed changes to the Health Services Act come after continuing issues with excessive waiting times in public healthcare, with critics frequently pointing at dual practitioners as one of the reasons for the decline of the public system.

Slovenian EPP MEPs opposed to Kos as Commissioner candidate

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenian MEP Romana Tomc (EPP/SDS) was critical of Slovenia replacing its candidate for the European Commission, saying that the Slovenian delegation of the European People's Party (EPP) did not support Marta Kos as the new candidate. The Slovenian delegation in the EPP, which includes four SDS MEPs and Matej Tonin of New Slovenia (NSi), does not support Kos as a commissioner, Tomc wrote on X. Matjaž Nemec (S&D/SD) on the other hand called for unified support for Kos.

Opposition reports parliament president to police

LJUBLJANA - The two opposition parties, the Democrats (SDS) and New Slovenia (NSi), have filed a criminal complaint against National Assembly President Urška Klakočar Zupančič for suspected abuse of office and misconduct in office, SDS deputy Danijel Krivec said. The ruling party sees this as mudslinging. The complaint was prompted by her refusal to convene a session at which a parliamentary inquiry into state-owned electricity companies would be launched.

Transformation and gradual wind-down of TEŠ power plant confirmed

ŠOŠTANJ - The head of state-owned power utility HSE Tomaž Štokelj announced that its loss-making coal-fired power plant TEŠ, a major source of electricity in the country, would be transformed on 1 January 2025 into a public service. TEŠ's role will gradually become primarily limited to a provider of heating for the Šalek Valley. Štokelj, who thus confirmed plans for an October or November emergency bill on the Šoštanj-based plant that secures up to 35% of Slovenia's electricity, explained in a statement for the media that HSE is no longer in a position to cover the costs of TEŠ's electricity production.

Mercator finished 2023 with nearly EUR 48 million loss

LJUBLJANA - Mercator, a leading Slovenian retail group owned by Croatia's Fortenova, finished 2023 with a loss of EUR 47.8 million after posting a profit of EUR 12.2 million in 2022. Its sales revenue meanwhile increased by 4% to EUR 1.3 billion, the group's business report shows. Retail sales revenue increased by 5.5% to EUR 1.04 billion. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), taking into account one-off effects, dropped by 31.8% to EUR 45.1 million.

Freedom Movement stresses unity and clear vision

LJUBLJANA - The council of the ruling Freedom Movement met to take note of the government's objectives, establishing that the party, government and ministries were in good shape, said the council head Nataša Avšič Bogovič, adding that healthcare, public sector wages and general well-being remained the priorities. "The Freedom Movement is entering autumn as a strong and united party," said Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič, adding that they would continue implementing the planned measures.

NLB entering Croatian market with leasing services

LJUBLJANA - NLB, a leading Slovenian bank, completed the acquisition of SLS Holdco, the parent company of Summit Leasing Slovenija, and its subsidiaries, including the Croatian company Mobil Leasing. NLB is thus becoming a leading provider of leasing services in Slovenia and re-entering Croatia after almost 30 years. NLB hailed the completion of the transaction, which NLB chairman Blaž Brodnjak labelled as "another step in NLB group's transformation into a regional champion."

Climate council unhappy with fossil fuel incentives, TEŠ aid

LJUBLJANA - The Climate Council, an independent government advisory body, underlined the need to reduce and abolish subsidies for fossil fuels as it went over the most recent versions of Slovenia's National Energy and Climate Plan and climate legislation changes at its last session. The members of the council also expressed concern about public finance risks stemming from the poor viability of the TEŠ power plant.

Business keen to have Made in Slovenia brand

LIPICA - While Slovenia already has a strong national brand, I Feel Slovenia, which is mainly used in tourism, corporate circles feel that a more business-focused Made in Slovenia brand should also be created. Efforts to that effect were debated at a get-together of Slovenian business ambassadors, at which Economy Minister Matjaž Han noted the importance of a strong national business brand that would symbolise quality and help demonstrate that quality products are being built in Slovenia.

Bus drivers' trade union warns about alarming situation

NAKLO/LJUBLJANA - The worrying situation in public transport continues to make headlines as the umbrella trade union of bus drivers warned about the unbearable conditions, including a severe shortage of drivers and burnout. The situation has been chaotic since 1 September, with passengers raising alarm as well, the union's president Dušan Vidovič said. But the problems run deeper since the union estimates Slovenia is short of 860 bus drivers. The bus operator Arriva rejected the claims.

Slovenia picks Family Therapy as Oscar international feature submission

LJUBLJANA - Family Therapy, a black comedy family drama by acclaimed auteur Sonja Prosenc, has been picked to be Slovenia's official entry for consideration in the best international feature category at the 2025 Oscars. Produced by Monoo, the feature talks about the topical issue of the untouchable elite and its hedonistic ways. Family Therapy had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York in June.

Slovenian director's new film makes its Netflix debut

LJUBLJANA - Boxer, a new feature film by Slovenian screenwriter and director Mitja Okorn known for his films Letters to Santa and Planet Single, will premiere on Netflix this evening. It portrays young boxer Eryk Kulm, who escapes communist Poland to chase his dream of becoming a world champion. The film not only tells the story of a boxer but also reflects the experiences of all Polish athletes from the 1980s who escaped communist Poland in search of success and opportunities.

New season at MGL brings ten new productions

LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana City Theatre (MGL) is starting the new season this month, bringing ten new productions under the slogan Forbidden Paths, which explores topics such as lies, suspicion, doubt, surprise, shame and jealousy. Three plays will be staged in Slovenia for the first time, and five will be comedies. The season will open next Thursday with Kasimir und Karoline, a play Odon von Horvath wrote a year before Hitler came to power, which is directed by Nina Rajić Kranjac.

Maribor's new cultural hub to open in early 2026

MARIBOR - Center Rotovž, one of the largest cultural infrastructure project in the country, will open in Maribor in the spring of 2026, Mayor Saša Arsenovič announced. With completion delayed by two years, the price tag has gone from EUR 25 million to EUR 37 million, and the municipality still hopes that the state will provide half of the funds. Initially slated for completion in 2024, the hub is to house the city's main library, a large exhibition area and an art cinema.

Art of Slovenian millennials from abroad on show in Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - An exhibition called Going Global and featuring the works of the millennial generation of Slovenians who live abroad will open at the Cankarjev Dom this evening. The works by ten artists respond to the digital consumer world, explore personal stories or address timeless themes such as time and space. Most of the artists originally studied in Slovenia but later moved abroad, where they have integrated into the local art scene.

Multi-purpose research centre for olives and Mediterranean crops emerging

KOPER - Plans for a multi-purpose research centre for olives and Mediterranean crops in Plavje near Koper were announced in what local scholars said will secure a state-of-the art upgrade to the efforts of the Institute of Olive Growing and the Institute of Viticulture and oenology. New labs and facilities will be built on the site of a former military outpost in Plavje to support the development of biotechnologies, climate change adaptation, circular economy practices, and more.