News roundup - Thursday, 26 September

Digital transformation minister resigns

LJUBLJANA - Beleaguered Digital Transformation Minister Emilija Stojmenova Duh tendered her resignation following media reports that her government car was caught using blue emergency light in Austria unlawfully. Stojmenova Duh denied the allegation in the report, first run by the news portal N1, that her ministry tried to avoid paying the fine for the speeding offence, which she said they did not yet receive. PM Robert Golob accepted her resignation and coalition parties hailed it, while the opposition said it was belated.

Golob discusses Middle East crisis with Qatar PM, Politico

NEW YORK, US - Prime Minister Robert Golob met Qatar Prime Minister Tamin bin Hamad al Thani while also giving an interview to US media outlet Politico, discussing the Middle East crisis, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. He reiterated the need for an immediate ceasefire. At the Wall Street Journal headquarters, Golob met journalist Evan Gershkovich, one of those who were exchanged in the recent swap of prisoners between the West and Russia. Slovenia handed over two spies.

Fajon urges ceasefire at informal Security Council-Arab League meeting

NEW YORK, US - Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon chaired a closed-door Security Council session with the Arab League leaders, which she said agreed on the need for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East, in both Gaza and Lebanon. "As a representative of Slovenia, I can say we're very concerned about the developments in the Middle East. Slovenia has been warning since the start of the Gaza war that it could spill over and the violence in Lebanon could lead to war in the region."

Slovenia endorses global governance reform at G20 ministerial

NEW YORK, US - FM Fajon backed Brazil's call for global governance reform as a courageous step forward as she attended on Wednesday a G20 ministerial which the Brazilian presidency opened to all UN members. Fajon said that the system must work for the benefit of humanity - to defend human rights, preserve peace and promote sustainable development. She said the existing global governance system should be strengthened to adapt to the new situation.

Fajon's appeal for united call for cessation of hostilities not heeded

NEW YORK, US - FM Tanja Fajon appealed to the UN Security Council on Wednesday to be united in its call for de-escalation and cessation of hostilities in Lebanon, a call that was not headed as the Council debated the situation in the aftermath of Israel's massive attacks on its northern neighbour. More violence will not bring more security, Fajon said. "Terrorism under disguise of solidarity or military operations under pretext of protection do not equal more security. They translate only into suffering of civilians. We need peace," she added.

Slovenia will participate in Rohingya genocide case against Myanmar

LJUBLJANA - The government decided for Slovenia to file an intervention in a Rohingya genocide case brought by Gambia against Myanmar before the International Court of Justice. In a case brought in 2019, Gambia alleges violations of the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in a case concerning the 2017 crackdown on the Rohingya minority by the Myanmar army. France, Germany and the UK are among the countries that joined the case last year.

Govt confirms budgets for 2025, 2026

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted the national budgets for 2025 and 2026, with Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič highlighting spending on the economy, healthcare, knowledge, innovation, housing and climate policy as the budget pillars. Funding is also being secured for the recently agreed pay rises in the public sector. The budget for 2025 had been adopted last year as part of legally mandated two-year budgeting and has now been revised. Revenue is projected at EUR 15.2 billion, 4.6% more than originally planned, and expenditure will increase by 8% to EUR 17.1 billion.

Public sector wage bill up by 10% last year

LJUBLJANA - Expenditure for gross salaries in the public sector rose by 10% last year on the year before and average gross monthly pay increased by 9%, according to an analysis of public sector wage bill for 2023 that the government submitted to parliament on Thursday together with the closing account of the national budget. The main reasons for the higher wage bill were higher base salaries as a result of pay brackets being increased by 4.5% starting from 1 October 2022.

Slovenia's development aid at nearly EUR 155m in 2023

LJUBLJANA - The government adopted the 2023 report on Slovenia's international development cooperation, which shows that the country spent EUR 152.7 million on development aid last year, or 0.24% of its gross national income (GNI). This is less than in 2022, when it allocated EUR 159.66 million for this purpose, or 0.29 of GNI. Multilateral development aid accounted for 57.9% of all development aid, up EUR 11.09 million from 2022. Most of it went through the channels of the EU, the UN and the World Bank.

Govt redesignates fmr. land border crossings with Croatia as strategic border points

LJUBLJANA - The government proposed changes to the border control act that redesignate the old land border crossings with Croatia as strategic border points and define the scope of strategic border areas. These points are considered vital for maintaining state readiness in the face of potential security challenges, it said.

Govt extends rules for simplified employment of foreigners

LJUBLJANA - The government has extended simplified rules to hire foreign workers by three months, that is until the end of the year. The extension applies to issuing and renewal of residence and work permits. The simplified rules were introduced this summer when an emergency law was passed, followings a months-long strike of clerks, to optimise work at administrative units.

Govt proposing expansion of deposit guarantee fund

LJUBLJANA - The government proposed raising the target size of the central bank-managed deposit guarantee fund, which compensates depositors in the event of a bank failure, from the current 0.8% to 1.5% of all guaranteed deposits in Slovenia by the end of 2030. The scheme currently guarantees up to EUR 100,000 per depositor per bank, or more in some cases.

Watchdog finds no corruption breaches concerning PM's company

LJUBLJANA - The Commission for the Prevention of Corruption has not found any corruption risks concerning PM Robert Golob's company Star Solar and its relationship with the national electricity exchange Borzen. In an opinion issued today, it said it had "not confirmed violations under our purview" after having received input from Borzen and a variety of government departments. As for the appointment of the Borzen director, it said it was in line with the rules, but has nevertheless issued recommendations regarding the appointment of Borzen supervisors.

Package of opposition measures addressing Roma problems rejected

LJUBLJANA - MPs rejected a package of legislative proposals submitted by the opposition New Slovenia (NSi) amid escalating problems with members of the Roma community in the southeast of the country. While the NSi sought to curb school violence and misuse of welfare benefits, the coalition argued the measures were inadmissible and misguided.

Parliament against referendum on parliamentary inquiry bill

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly adopted a coalition-sponsored decision which deems unacceptable a referendum on the changes to the Parliamentary Inquiry Act that were recently passed and that the opposition Democrats (SDS) want voters to have the final say on. The coalition argued that the new legislation, designed to safeguard persons that are the subject of investigation, was one of the four exceptions for which a referendum cannot be held - in that it eliminated an unconstitutional situation.

Govt against new criminal act of assault on healthcare worker

LJUBLJANA - The government decided not to support a proposed change to the criminal code that would make attacking healthcare workers a specific crime. It did however announce it will examine the possibility of securing additional legal protection for all professions that face risks due to their nature. The proposal, put forward by the Medical Chamber, the Chamber of Pharmacy and the Nurses' and Midwives' Association and backed by over 7,500 public signatures, was submitted to the National Assembly in July.

EBRD downgrades GDP growth forecast for Slovenia to 1.5%

LONDON, UK - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) downgraded its economic growth forecast for Slovenia for this year to 1.5% from 2.3%, in line with a recent forecast by the Slovenian central bank. It meanwhile kept its forecast for 2025 unchanged at 2.6%. The 2024 forecast anticipates a recovery in investment, while the expected improvement of the situation in the eurozone and stronger investment are expected to accelerate the pace to 2.6% next year.

Slovenia keeping an eye on automotive industry woes

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The Slovenian authorities are keeping a close eye on the woes of the European automotive industry and want to leverage the green transition to strengthen the country's standing in the sector, Economy Ministry State Secretary Matevž Frangež said ahead of an EU ministerial. "We are monitoring the situation both at the level of our key markets and at the level of the key customers of the Slovenian car industry," he said.

Manager Congress warned of geostrategic threats to economy

PORTOROŽ - The annual congress of Slovenian managers in Portorož opened with a warning of geostrategic threats to the European and Slovenian economies with the president of the Manager Association, Iztok Seljak, urging boosting competitiveness in the face of the threat. Meanwhile, Economy Minister Matjaž Han argued Slovenia was less threatened than some other countries. Competition is the main theme of the Manager Association's congress this year.

Director of prefab house maker named Manager of the Year

PORTOROŽ - Marko Lukić, the owner and director of prefabricated house maker Lumar IG, was honoured by his peers with the title of the 2024 Manager of the Year. Lukić developed the company into a globally recognised trendsetter in wooden low-energy homes, the Manager Association said as it presented the award at its annual congress. "The company's financials, awards and certificates testify to his success," it said.

Ana Barič Moder wins literary translation award

LJUBLJANA - This year's Sovre Prize for best literary translation has been awarded to Ana Barič Moder for her translation of the fourth and fifth novel in Edward St Aubyn's bestseller series Patrick Melrose, published by Mladinska Knjiga in 2023. The jury praised her work as "highly readable yet stylistically brave - just like the original." Barič Moder told the STA that the novels were demanding, full of wit, word play and metaphors, but also "candy".

Writers' Association president Dušan Merc resigns

LJUBLJANA - Dušan Merc has resigned as president of the Slovenian Writers' Association (DSP) without giving reasons for the move, Radio Slovenija. A writer and a retired teacher, who in the past served as the headteacher of the Ljubljana Prule primary school for many years, Merc has been heading the DSP since 2019. His predecessors, Aksinja Kermauner and Ivo Svetina, also ended their terms early.