News roundup - Wednesday, 16 October

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.

Bobnar dismisses "political battle" accusations as absurd

LJUBLJANA - The legal representatives of Interior Minister Tatjana Bobnar, whose complaint over alleged meddling in the police force has led to charges being filed by the police against PM Robert Golob, dismissed on Golob's claims that Bobnar is engaged in a political battle. Švab said Bobnar is no longer a politician, and that suggestions she is engaged in a political battle are, according to Švab, absurd and inappropriate.
He said Bobnar "stands by her statements," and noted that a criminal complaint filed by police is not the same as a report filed by an individual since it is the result of a preliminary investigation.

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.

PM's party sees criminal complaint as attempt to undermine govt

LJUBLJANA - The Freedom Movement expressed support for party head and Prime Minister Robert Golob after the police filed criminal charges against him in the wake of accusations that he pushed for a political purge in the police force. "The accusations against the prime minister that he had meddled in the police force is simply a well-known political game by players old and new on Slovenia's political floor," deputy group leader Nataša Avšič Bogovič told the press.

Golob accused of using bribes to see meddling done

LJUBLJANA - The Specialised State Prosecutor's Office revealed that the criminal complaint against Prime Minister Robert Golob is for what the Penal Code terms "giving of gifts for illegal intervention". It criminalises promising, offering or giving "an award, gift or any other favour to other person for himself or any third person" in order to influence the performance of official acts or to prevent such official acts.

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.

Renawables-only scenario to be presented before Krško 2 referendum

LJUBLJANA - Danijel Levičar, the state secretary in charge of nuclear expansion, expects the Environment Ministry to present a renewables-only scenario before voters decide on nuclear expansion in a 24 November referendum, so that they know what an alternative to rejecting the nuclear plus renewables scenario is. "This scenario should have already been ready, and I hope they will shortly release it so that the people know what the alternative is," he told an energy conference.

Golob says Slovenia supports export ban on arms to Israel

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Prime Minister Robert Golob said as he arrived for the EU-Gulf Cooperation Council summit that Slovenia actively supports an export ban on arms to Israel. While noting that this in itself is not a solution to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East, it is one of the measures that are being discussed. "We are among active supporters, i.e. promoters of an arms exports embargo," he said.

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.

Luxembourg to assist Slovenia in EU enlargement efforts

LJUBLJANA - Luxembourg promised to assist Slovenia in its activities concerning EU enlargement as Claude Wiseler, president of the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies, held talks with National Assembly President Urška Klakočar Zupančič. Luxembourg is willing to help Slovenia as it works to facilitate EU enlargement to the Western Balkans, said Wiesler. Klakočar Zupančič added that both countries were advocates of a strong, resilient and successful EU, and of EU enlargement.

Govt to cut prices of radiology services

LJUBLJANA - The Health Ministry announced it plans to cut the prices of radiology services in collaboration with public health insurer ZZZS in a bid to stop radiologists quitting from public health providers to earn more at private providers or by working for public providers while not being fully employed there. The ZZZS estimates the price cuts will be significant. The Association of Healthcare Institutions welcomed the plan.

More funding for defence welcomed by parliamentary committee

LJUBLJANA - The Defence Committee welcomed the funding increases for the Defence Ministry envisaged in the budget proposals for 2025 and 2026. The 2025 proposal allocates over EUR 1.2 billion to the Defence Ministry, an increase of EUR 191.2 million compared to the estimated budget for this year, and more than EUR 1.3 billion in 2026. Defence Minister Borut Sajovic stressed that the ministry's expenditure not only strengthens security and resilience but also has a significant impact on people's lives through the well-developed civil protection system.

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 Home Affairs 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.

Lagarde sees Slovenia as example in how to overcome challenges

LJUBLJANA - European Central Bank (ECB) president Christine Lagarde set Slovenia as an example for Europe of how to overcome challenges, as she spoke at a dinner hosted by the Bank of Slovenia as part of a meeting of the ECB Governing Council. "While many in Europe are anxious about the future, Slovenians are no strangers to uncertainty," she said, noting that within a single generation, Slovenia made a successful transition from a planned economy to a market economy and "defied the odds by implementing tough structural reforms."

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.

MEP urges EU action over "abuse of judiciary" in Slovenia

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Right-wing MEP Branko Grims urged the European Commission to action the case of former judge Zvjezdan Radonjić, who has been found guilty of slander. Grims described the case as an abuse of the judiciary." Because he alerted the public to the existence of unacceptable pressures within the judiciary on an independent judge, he has been subjected to a lynching by the media and the legal profession," Grims claims.

Slovenia and France agree to further cooperation in science and innovation

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia and France marked 30 years of joint scientific collaboration through the PHC Proteus programme by signing an administrative agreement on continued cooperation in science, innovation, and higher education. Higher Education Minister Igor Papič hailed France as a steadfast ally and strategic partner for Slovenia and its researchers. "I'm pleased that we are extending and expanding this successful collaboration today," he said.

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.

Maribor police break up money counterfeiting ring

MARIBOR - The Maribor police have arrested five people suspected of putting into circulation counterfeit euro banknotes forged by an Italian criminal organisation. The counterfeit notes were used in shops, petrol stations, casinos, and for online purchases. Officers seized some 2,800 counterfeited EUR 50 notes and 390 fake EUR 100 notes, which altogether amounts to nearly EUR 181,000, along with EUR 21,800 in illegally obtained cash.