News roundup - Wednesday, 16 October, until 3pm

PM denies meddling in police, accuses Bobnar of plotting purge

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Robert Golob denied meddling in the police as he responded to last night's media reports that the police had filed a criminal complaint against him. He said that former Interior Minister Tatjana Bobnar, who made the accusation, got the job after she proposed purging the force of Janša loyalists, and said she was now scheming to have him replaced. The allegations in the complaint are not clear, but are reportedly related to claims by Bobnar that Golob had pushed for staffing changes in the force to rid it of staff loyal to the previous government, led by Janez Janša.

Coalition partners, opposition demand answers as PM faces criminal charges

LJUBLJANA - The two junior coalition partners reacted cautiously to news hat the police had lodged criminal charges against Prime Minister Robert Golob. The Left said it would demand explanations from Golob, while the Social Democrats (SD) said they would discuss the matter. The opposition New Slovenia (NSi) said that Golob's reaction raised even more questions than it answered. "This country deserves a prime minister with credibility," NSi deputy Vida Čadonič Špelič said.

Green party challenges Krško 2 referendum at top court

LJUBLJANA - The green party Vesna submitted a petition for a constitutional review of the decision to hold a referendum on a second reactor at the Krško nuclear power station. Arguing that the referendum question is misleading, the party also asked the court to stay the referendum procedures pending a final decision. Urša Zgojznik, one of the two leaders of the party, sees the referendum question as unfair and misleading, a point of view raised by several environmental groups and other NGOs and experts in recent weeks.

Fajon says Slovenia consistent in addressing crises

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia is one of the most proactive EU countries in the search for peace in the Middle East, and it is very consistent in addressing crises around the world as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon told the Foreign Policy Committee. She rejected the criticism by two opposition SDS MPs who accused Prime Minister Robert Golob of putting Slovenia on the side of Hamas in his address to the UN General Assembly last month when he urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the war in Gaza.

Žbogar points to suffering of Yemeni children at UN Security Council meeting

NEW YORK, US - Slovenian Ambassador Samuel Žbogar highlighted during Tuesday's UN Security Council debate on the situation in Yemen, the suffering of Yemeni children, who he said are bearing the brunt of the now almost decade-long civil war. "Recruitment, early marriage, displacement, landmines... children are bearing the brunt of a decade of war and 40% of them are unable to go to school," Žbogar said.

Foreign Policy Committee discusses 2025-26 budgets

LJUBLJANA - The Foreign Policy Committee discussed the government budget proposals for the next two years with Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon saying the budgeted funds were sufficient to support the work of the ministry and the diplomatic network. The supplementary budget for 2025 allocates EUR 161.7 million to the Foreign Ministry, of which EUR 151.5 million in integral budget funds, EUR 6.9 million in dedicated funds and over EUR 3 million in EU funds.

Committee discusses public administration, digit ministries' budgets

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Home Affairs, Public Administration and Local Self Government Committee discussed the budgets of the public administration and digital transformation ministries for 2025 and 2026 on Tuesday. Both will have more funds available in 2025, but fewer in 2026. The Public Administration Ministry will receive EUR 119.7 million in 2025, up EUR 38.3 million, and the Ministry of Digital Transformation EUR 138.4 million, up EUR 63.6 million. In 2026, the former will have EUR 116.2 million at its disposal and the latter EUR 92.6 million.

Funds for Italian, Hungarian minorities to go up in 2025, 2026

LJUBLJANA - The Commission for National Communities took note of the budget bills for 2025 and 2026 on Tuesday. The funding for the Italian and Hungarian minorities is being increased compared to previous years. For the two minorities and the Roma community combined, a total of EUR 16.77 million is foreseen in 2025 and EUR 17.17 million in 2026. The commission called on the government to study the comments and suggestions made during the debate and take them into account when amending budgets for 2025 and 2026.

Slovenia's justice budget in terms of GDP above CoE average, report says

STRASBOURG, France - The latest Council of Europe (CoE) report on judicial systems has found that Slovenia spends more on its judicial system as a share of GDP than the European average. Moreover, the country has nearly twice as many judges per 100,000 residents. Compiled by the CoE's European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), the report is based on data from 2022 and includes 44 out of the CoE's 46 members.

Slovenia received EUR 38m in EEA and Norway Grants in 2014-2021

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia received EUR 37.7 million from the European Economic Area (EEA) and Norway Grants scheme between 2014 and 2021, showed a report presented today. Cohesion Minister Aleksander Jevšek said that such financial mechanisms helped to close economic gaps across Europe. "These are unique mechanisms that form a foundation between Slovenia and donation countries," said Jevšek.

Greentech to develop innovative solutions for climate goals

LJUBLJANA - Three Slovenian higher education institutions and eight companies have joined forces to develop innovative solutions for reducing CO2 emissions and energy consumption while encouraging circular economy as part of Greentech, a project worth EUR 5.2 million. Among the main goals are also reducing material consumption, introducing smart management of systems, and developing green household appliances.

Charities say demand for food parcels increasing

LJUBLJANA - Marking World Food Day, humanitarian organisations warned that many people in Slovenia are still unable to afford basic foodstuffs. Amid an increasing demand for food parcels it is essential to ensure access to food for all, they said, noting that every person has the right to adequate food and quality nutrition. Some 264,000 people, or 12.7% of Slovenia's entire population, lived beneath the poverty line last year, which is still among the lowest at-risk-of-poverty rates in the EU.