News roundup - Monday, 23 September

Golob: Energy sector must be first to act on climate change

NEW YORK, US - Prime Minister Robert Golob highlighted the role of the energy sector in the fight against climate change and called for strong collective action at an event dubbed Financing the Tripling of Nuclear Energy, held on the sidelines of the ongoing UN General Assembly. Nuclear energy represents a secure, sustainable energy source for the future, said Golob, adding that politics has taken the first step, which should be followed by engineers.

PM underlines importance of potable water access at Summit of the Future

NEW YORK, US - Prime Minister Robert Golob addressed the UN Summit of the Future in New York on Sunday, welcoming the Pact for the Future adopted by the world leaders as the two-day event kicked off. He also talked about water diplomacy and proposed a global partnership for water. Golob underlined that water was the most precious natural resource for a shared future, peace and stability of all countries.

Slovenia "deeply concerned" by Israel-Hezbollah escalation

LJUBLJANA - The Foreign Ministry has expressed "deep concern" about the escalation of violence between Israel and Hezbollah, calling for the imminent implementation of a 2006 UN Security Council resolution on Lebanon and the need to exercise restraint. "We need a ceasefire now, as we need to pave the steps towards lasting peace in the region. Lebanon must not become the next Gaza," the it said on X.

Commission votes for dismissal of Minister Stojmenova Duh despite lack of quorum

LJUBLJANA - Despite a lack of quorum, the Public Finance Oversight Commission called on Digital Transformation Minister Emilija Stojmenova Duh to resign over the purchase of 13,000 laptops for underprivileged families. The minister, who faces a no-confidence vote on Friday, was absent, as were coalition MPs. The Digital Transformation Ministry said that the conclusions of the commission were null and void and that the minister decided not to attend due to the lack of quorum.

Committee votes down SDS's proposal that FinMin resign

LJUBLJANA - The Finance Committee voted down a proposal by the opposition Democrats (SDS) that Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič resign over non-economical use of budget funds found by the Court of Audit in last year's purchases of an ill-fated court building by the Justice Ministry and 13,000 laptops by the Digital Transformation Ministry. Six committee members voted that the minister should take responsibility and resign, nine voted against.

Seven candidates interested in running central bank

LJUBLJANA - Seven candidates have responded to President Nataša Pirc Musar's call for applications for Slovenian central bank governor. Incumbent Boštjan Vasle has confirmed he will seek re-election. Media reports suggest other candidates include Saša Jazbec, a Finance Ministry state secretary, Milan Martin Cvikl, one of the central bank vice governors, and Tone Rop, a former finance minister and prime minister. Pirc Musar will now talk with the candidates and consult deputy groups before sending her pick to parliament by 23 October.

A third support govt, a quarter for SDS in POP TV poll

LJUBLJANA - The voter approval rating for the Robert Golob government has dropped further to below a third (31.9%) in a poll commissioned by the commercial broadcaster POP TV, as the opposition Democrats (SDS) enjoy the support of nearly a quarter of (24.7%) of those questioned. The government saw its approval rating sink by 4.3 percentage points on the month before, as the share of those who do not support it rose by 5.5 points to 52.1%. President Nataša Pirc Musar continues to top the ranking of most popular politicians.

No bidders for airline subsidies in latest call

LJUBLJANA - The fifth call published by the Slovenian government to boost the country's air connectivity has attracted no bidders, the Infrastructure Ministry said. The latest call was published in August. The previous calls have produced new air links connecting Ljubljana to Luxembourg, Riga, Madrid and Copenhagen. The ministry is now working on a sixth call.

Council of EU, budget committee clear post-flood aid for Slovenia

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The Council of the EU and the European Parliament's budget committee approved the disbursement of a total of EUR 428 million from the EU Solidarity Fund to Slovenia for reconstruction after the August 2023 floods. Before Slovenia can get the funds, the European Parliament needs to give the go-ahead at the plenary session.

Residential real estate prices up 7% in Q2 y/y

LJUBLJANA - The prices of residential real estate in Slovenia continued to grow in the second quarter of the year. They increased by 2.2% over the first quarter and by 6.7% year-on-year. The number of transactions meanwhile dropped by 20% year-on-year, the Statistics Office said. Following a 7.6% drop in prices of new residential real estate in the first quarter of the year, an increase of 9.1% was reported in the second quarter.

Winemakers fear record-low grape harvest

LJUBLJANA - Likely the earliest on record, at least in some parts of the country, this year's grape harvest in Slovenia has been described as disastrous in terms of volumes. Compared to the five-year average, the yield is about a third lower this year, the Winemakers' Association at the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) warned. On a positive side, the harvest is likely to yield a fine if not superb vintage.

Regulated fuel prices to go down again on Tuesday

LJUBLJANA - The prices of fuel sold outside Slovenia's motorway network will decrease on Tuesday. The price of regular petrol will go down by 1.8 cents to EUR 1.457 a litre, while diesel will be 3.4 cents cheaper at EUR 1.485 a litre, the Environment, Climate and Energy Ministry announced. Heating oil will be cheaper as well, its retail price dropping by 3.3 cents to EUR 1.092 per litre. The new prices will stay in effect until 7 October.

State endorses transfer of SSH's real estate business onto DSU

LJUBLJANA - As the only shareholder of Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH), the government confirmed the transfer of SSH's real estate business onto DSU, a state-owned real estate management company. SSH acquired this property when the Bank Assets Management Company, a band bank, was folded into SSH at the end of 2022. The transactions should be completed by the end of the month.

Pečečnik re-elected president of Slovenian Business Club

LJUBLJANA - Entrepreneur Joc Pečečnik has been re-elected president of the Slovenian Business Club (SBC), one of the most prominent business organisations in the country, for another four-year term. He plans to focus on family finances, improving the business environment and promoting a more balanced regional development.

Migrant Film Festival opens in Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA - The 15th Migrant Film Festival opened bringing screenings and other events that shed light on various aspects of migration, asylum and refugees. A total of 22 films from 14 countries will be screened in Ljubljana and eight other towns across Slovenia with an accompanying programme featuring ten guests. This year the festival will draw attention to the genocide in Palestine, the criminalisation of solidarity, women in migration, violent borders, crisis situations, and corporate greed.

Slovenian army starts Adriatic Thunder air support exercise

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) started the joint Adriatic Thunder air support exercise that includes the Pilatus PC-9 trainer aircraft and Bell 206 helicopters and mortar units on the ground, the Defence Ministry announced. The exercise will take place until Friday at the Cerklje ob Krki airbase, the Mirna Valley and Kostanjevica na Krki in eastern Slovenia and the Poček training grounds in the southwest.