News roundup - Saturday, 23 November

Golob says wage reform "motivational victory" for other reforms

LJUBLJANA - Now that a public sector wage reform has been negotiated, PM Robert Golob is optimistic about other reforms, labelling the wage reform as a "motivational victory" which "paves the way for other reforms". While some doubt the state is able to finance a EUR 1.4 billion wage reform, Golob told the STA that the funds are already earmarked in the 2025 and 2026 budgets. He sees the closure of talks on wage reform as a historic endeavour. "This is a successful start of a complex reform, with simultaneous talks with 46 trade unions, while foreign policy circumstances are difficult and there are also fiscal rules." He also said that Slovenia is prepared for a possible economic crisis.

President denies agreement with PM on international activities

LJUBLJANA - The office of President Nataša Pirc Musar denied any agreement with Prime Minister Robert Golob regarding taking over the majority of his international duties in the coming year, as stated by Golob in a recent interview for the STA. The office noted that Golob has only asked for a meeting on this topic, which will be held. Based on the long-standing rotation system, the president will definitely attend the UN General Assembly and the UN Climate Change Conference next year, but she cannot substitute for the PM at events that are expected to be attended by prime ministers, the office also said.

Ministry says Slovenia not buying Israeli weapons since war in Gaza

LJUBLJANA - The Defence Ministry said that Slovenia has not purchased weapons, ammunition or other military equipment from Israel since the beginning of the war in Gaza, adding that the government has not issued any permits for the export of such goods to Israel, either. This comes after the newspaper Delo reported, referring to data obtained by the coalition Left, that the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) have purchased EUR 57.5 million worth of weapons and ammunition from Israel in the 2019-2023 period, and that EUR 31.5 million in Israeli weapons and ammunition is to be purchased in the 2024-2026 period. has not.

Majority in Delo poll says new grid fee system unfair

LJUBLJANA - The majority of respondents (55.5%) in a survey commissioned by the newspaper Delo and carried out by the pollster Mediana think that the new system of electricity network charges is unfair, and almost two-thirds (64.1%) find the system complicated. Almost half of the people polled (49.6%) expect higher heating bills this year compared to 2023. The respondents were also asked whether they have or whether they intended to change their electricity consumption habits due to the new system, with almost a third (29.8%) responding negatively. Almost 27% save energy on heating of their homes.

Slovenia celebrates national hero General Rudolf Maister

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia observed Rudolf Maister Day, remembering the general who established the first Slovenian army in modern history and captured a large territory around Maribor to set what would eventually become Slovenia's northern border. The General Rudolf Maister year is also marked this year to celebrate the 150th anniversary of his birth. President Nataša Pirc Musar said in her message for the public holiday that "with his immense love for his homeland and his vision of a unified and territorially integrated country, Rudolf Maister permanently marked the existence of our nation."

Nika Prevc wins Ski Jumping World Cup season opener

LILLEHAMMER, Norway - Slovenia's Nika Prevc won the opening event of the new women's Ski Jumping World Cup season in a convincing fashion in what is the eighth individual World Cup victory for the defender of the overall winner title from the previous season. Prevc scored 269.9 points with jumps of 138.5 and 138 metres, finishing ahead of Germany's Katharina Schmid and Selina Freitag. "I'm very happy that I managed to keep my composure and have two very good jumps," Prevc said.

Area of land for organic farming increases 10% in 2023

LJUBLJANA - Land certified for organic farming increased by 10% in 2023 to nearly 46,200 hectares, with an additional 8,400 hectares being under conversion to organic. Taking into account both figures, around 11% of all agricultural land (54,600 hectares) was used for organic farming, the latest statistics show. Just over 3,860 farms were included in the system of organic farming controls, an increase of 2% compared to 2022, the Statistics Office said. The biggest rise was recorded in farms converting to organic farming, up 515 or 45%.

Božidar Jakac Gallery mounts major exhibition on new realisms

KOSTANJEVICA NA KRKI - The Božidar Jakac Gallery has put on an exhibition exploring Central European new realisms in the 1925-1933 period. With 195 works by 83 authors, it is the largest exhibition ever at one of Slovenia's foremost galleries dedicated to modern and contemporary art. Entitled Distant Gaze: New Objectivity and Realisms in Central Europe, it focuses on a short period when expressionism lost its momentum and gave way to new movements in art. It will be on show until 23 March.

Ljubljana, Maribor and Celje recognised for their holiday season celebrations

CELJE - The Christmas markets in Slovenia's top three cities are a safe bet for a lovely holiday experience this December. While Ljubljana and Maribor made the top five on the list of most sustainable markets of the European Best Destinations portal, Celje was declared the European City of Christmas by the Christmas Cities Network. On the list of the best sustainable Christmas markets, Maribor placed second only to Essen and Ljubljana in fourth place, with Budapest between them.