News roundup - Friday, 25 October

Major cyberattack on University of Maribor reportedly involves ransomware

MARIBOR - Following confirmation of a severe cyberattack on the University of Maribor on Thursday, reports now suggest that ransomware is involved. The extensive breach has likely encrypted all data, including backups, though the attackers' demands remain unclear. But the university said today that it had received no demands from the attackers. Citing unnamed cyber security experts, the newspaper Delo reported that the scale of the breach exceeds that of the recent cyberattack on the state-owned power group HSE, which was resolved within days.

Slovenian judge appointed to Netanyahu arrest case panel

THE HAGUE, Netherlands - The International Criminal Court (ICC) appointed Slovenian judge Beti Hohler as a member of the three-strong panel deciding on a prosecution request for an arrest warrant for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu for crimes committed in Gaza. Hohler, the first ever Slovenian ICC judge, who started serving her term in March, took over from Romanian Iulia Motoc, who asked to leave on health grounds, Reuters reported.

Finance minister says Slovenia must continue its reform drive

WASHINGTON, US - Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič told Slovenian reporters on the margins of IMF and World Bank meetings in Washington that Slovenia had received a lot of praise about its stability and reforms, but that the reform drive needs to continue. He also said that in two weeks' time, an IMF delegation will visit the country. Slovenia has also been praised for successfully reducing debt, even faster than forecast, said the minister, who is accompanied by central bank governor Boštjan Vasle.

Govt plans revenue-neutral property taxation

LJUBLJANA - Coalition partners will debate guidelines for a reform of property taxation early next year. The underlying plan is revenue neutrality - reducing the taxation of labour and increasing the taxation of real estate, Prime Minister Robert Golob told parliament during questions' time. The new tax must be fair and neutral. "This means that taxation of wages will be reduced by the same amount as taxation of real estate is increased," according to Golob.

Golob tells MPs Slovenia well prepared for possible crisis

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Robert Golob said that Slovenia is well prepared for a possible economic crisis as the government has been making sure that systematic investments are made in innovation and diversification of risks, as he took questions from MPs. He stressed that the number of announced new jobs in industry exceeds the announced lay-offs.

Energy Minister Kumer feels he still has PM's full trust

LJUBLJANA - Environment, Climate, and Energy Minister Bojan Kumer dismissed speculation that Prime Minister Robert Golob could lose confidence in him amid controversy around the cancelled referendum on the Krško 2 nuclear project. He also assured the press that his ministry is committed to providing comprehensive information and downplayed the delay in the release of a relevant study.

Poll: Slovenians generally in favour of nuclear energy, Krško 2

LJUBLJANA - A total of 60% of respondents in a poll released by private broadcaster POP TV said that nuclear energy is a safe and cheap source of energy compared to other sources, while 28% disagreed. If the referendum on Krško 2, a second nuclear reactor in Krško, were held on Sunday, 45.3% of respondents would support the project and 36.7% would not. POP TV said that when asked a similar question in March, 63.5% of respondents said they would support the project and 18.1% would not.

Finance Committee rejects amendments to 2026 draft budget

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Finance Committee discussed the draft 2026 budget as the last parliamentary body to do so, rejecting all proposals for reallocation of funds tabled by the opposition. Finance Ministry State Secretary Saša Jazbec told the MPs that the budget is flexible enough to be adjusted in the event of unforeseen circumstances. In 2026, the government expects revenue of EUR 15.9 billion and expenditure of EUR 17.1 billion, which means the planned deficit is EUR 1.2 billion, or 1.6% of GDP.

Govt does not think doctors will leave public system en masse

LJUBLJANA - Responding to a survey showing about one in six doctors intends to leave the public system if forthcoming legislation bans dual practice as currently planned, the Health Ministry said it does not believe doctors will leave in such great numbers. Such warnings stem out of a fear of change, Jasna Humar, director general of the Health Ministry's Directorate General for Healthcare, told the STA. "In reality the private market in Slovenia is still poorly developed. I don't see how all these doctors could work and make a living in private practice," she said.

Business chamber opposed to TEŠ emergency bill

LJUBLJANA - The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) rejected a proposed emergency bill on the loss-making Šoštanj coal-fired power plant (TEŠ) as unacceptable. It claims the bill represents a high risk for the local economy and reliability of the electricity system. GZS director general Vesna Nahtihal said that replacement sources of electricity are not defined in the bill, posing a risk to the reliability of the entire electricity system.

Freedom Movement deputy group leader interviewed by NBI

LJUBLJANA - Nataša Avšič Bogovič, the leader of the ruling party's MPs, was interviewed by officers from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in what she assumes was in connection with a leaked recording of discussions about a referendum on the second unit at the Krško nuclear power plant which has been since called off. She made a point of saying that the interview was of informative nature and nothing out of the ordinary.

Slovenia announces EUR 1 million in aid for Lebanon

PARIS, France - Slovenia announced an additional EUR 1 million in humanitarian aid for Lebanon at the International Conference in Support of Lebanon's People and Sovereignty, hosted by France on Thursday, said the Foreign Ministry, adding that Slovenia calls for an immediate ceasefire and respect for international law. The conference raised more than EUR 740 million for humanitarian aid and nearly EUR 185 million in support for the Lebanese Armed Forces.

NSi wants MPs to discuss investments in healthcare

LJUBLJANA - The deputy group of the opposition New Slovenia (NSi) announced it had requested a session of the Public Finance Oversight Commission to discuss suspected misuse of public funds in investments in healthcare. They would like to point to delays and price hikes in key projects, including the renovation of the UKC Ljubljana hospital. MP Jernej Vrtovec, the chair of the parliamentary commission, said that at the session on 7 November, the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption and the Court of Audit will be urged to prioritise the alleged misuse of public funds in some key investments in healthcare.

Podgoršek elected new head of agriculture and forestry chamber

LJUBLJANA - Former Agriculture Minister Jože Podgoršek was elected the new president of the Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry (KGZS) by the newly elected members of the KGZS council. Podgoršek will take over on 2 November from Roman Žveglič, who did not run for a second term. Podgoršek, who chairs the forum for agriculture and rural areas of the opposition Democrats (SDS), defeated young mountain farmer Žiga Kršinar.

Slovenians in Austria's Carinthia draw attention to their minority rights

KLAGENFURT, Austria - The Slovenian ethnic minority in the Austrian state of Carinthia highlighted the open issues as it addressed a letter to Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and the leaders of parliamentary parties after the president entrusted Chancellor Karl Nehammer, leader of the Social Democrats (SPÖ), with forming a new government. Three Slovenian minority umbrella organisations and the Slovenian political party EL expressed satisfaction that ethnic minorities had been included in the 2020-24 government programme. However, the programme remains largely unimplemented except for higher funds for the ethnic minorities.

Entrepreneur Akrapovič denies alleged political involvement

LJUBLJANA - Entrepreneur Igor Akrapovič denied the speculations that he is getting involved in politics and joining forces with National Council President Marko Lotrič, who mentioned him among the collaborators with whom he is developing a new political party. Akrapovič, the founder of the eponymous exhaust system producer, sent a statement to the press in which he denied "any information, i.e. articles about my active entry into politics with Marko Lotrič".

Slovenia upbeat about chairmanship of the Bureau of the Waters Convention

LJUBLJANA - The 10th meeting of the parties to the UN Water Convention ended in Ljubljana with Slovenia officially taking over from Estonia the three-year chairmanship of the Bureau of the Waters Convention for the 2024-2027 period. Aleš Bizjak from the Ministry of Natural Resources is confident the country will do a good job.

Business sentiment deteriorates again

LJUBLJANA - Business sentiment in Slovenia has decreased for the second consecutive month in October, according to data released by the Statistics Office (SURS). The index is at -4.1 percentage points, 2.2 points lower than in September but still 1.2 points higher than in October 2023. SURS said that the sentiment indicator was negatively impacted by four out of five indicators: in services, manufacturing, retail trade and among consumers. The construction confidence indicator had no impact.

Steady growth in tourism figures continues

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia recorded steady growth in tourism numbers in the first nine months of the year. Arrivals rose by 5.3% to 5.5 million and overnight stays by 3.8% to 14.1 million, the latest Statistics Office data show. The number of foreign tourists rose by 7.2% year-on-year to 4.3 million, with the number of domestic guests dropping by 1% to 1.2 million.

Flights to fewer destinations available from Ljubljana in winter

BRNIK - Passengers will have 16 scheduled routes operated by 14 airlines available from Ljubljana Airport this winter. While this is fewer than the 18 destinations last winter, there will be more flights to Munich and Zurich, major hubs for Slovenian travellers. The winter schedule starts on 27 November and lasts until 29 March.

Report: Criminal complaint filed in stomach operation mix-up case

LJUBLJANA - The police have filed a criminal complaint with the State Prosecutor's Office in a case of a patient who had his healthy stomach removed at the Ljubljana Oncology Institute, the country's main cancer treatment hospital, due to a mix-up of tissue samples in November 2023, news portal N1 reported.

Celje and Ljubljana clubs bounce back in UEFA Conference League

CELJE/LJUBLJANA - After suffering defeats in their UEFA Conference League openers at the start of the month, national football champions Celje as well as Olimpija Ljubljana won their second group games at home on Thursday. Celje beat Istanbul Basaksehir 5:1 (3:0) and Olimpija defeated Lask from Austria's Linz 2:0 (1:0).

Europe Square gets EU funds to prepare for European Capital of Culture

NOVA GORICA - The square in front of the Nova Gorica train station located on the border between Slovenia and Italy will receive EUR 1.53 million in co-funding for the renovation it is currently undergoing to become one of the main venues when Nova Gorica and Gorizia jointly become the 2025 European Capital of Culture. EUR 765,200 will come from the European Regional Development Fund and EUR 764,800 from the Slovenian budget.