News roundup - Monday, 25 November

Economy in focus as Fajon starts Portugal visit

LISBON, Portugal - Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon started a two-day visit to Portugal by meeting her counterpart Paulo Rangel. The pair discussed the situation in the Middle East and Ukraine, with Fajon urging Rangel for his country to recognise Palestine as a necessary step on the way to a two-state solution. Fajon also wished Portugal a successful campaign in its bid to become a Security Council member in 2027-2028. On the sidelines of the visit, the Slovenian and Portuguese investment promotion agencies signed a memorandum of understanding to boost economic cooperation in a number of fields.

Upper chamber vetoes budget bill over funding cut

LJUBLJANA - The National Council vetoed the bill implementing the budgets for 2025 and 2026 over nearly half a million euro reduction of its funding carried out without consultation. The government's original budget proposal set aside EUR 3.9 million for the National Council for 2025, up from EUR 3.2 million for 2024, but during committee procedure the earmark was cut by EUR 485,000 at the proposal of the coalition without consultation with them and without any explanation. The lower chamber will now have to take a revote. Confirmation requires a 46-vote majority in the 90-member assembly.

Court of Audit complains its independence being undermined

LJUBLJANA - The Court of Audit accused the government and parliament of undermining its independence after its budget for 2025 was cut significantly compared to the original proposal and auditors were ignored in the recent public sector pay reform. The Court of Audit was set to get EUR 13.2 million in 2025, up from EUR 8.8 million this year. However, a coalition amendment passed by the Finance Committee cut the earmark by EUR 3.9 million, with the government saying the extra funds had been planned for the purchases of new offices. The Finance Ministry responded by saying that if it becomes clear during the year that the court is lacking funds, a solution will be found.

New parties surge in POP TV poll

LJUBLJANA - Some of the new or potential upcoming parties appear to be off to a strong start, with a POP TV poll released on Sunday showing that the Democrats, the party recently founded by MP Anže Logar, leapfrogged to third place, and MEP Vladimir Prebilič would place fourth if he was to form his own party and contest the next election. Excluding the Democrats and several parties that are to be founded soon, the poll placed the Democratic Party (SDS), the largest opposition party, at 20.6%, down a point and a half from October, with the ruling Freedom Movement gaining more than three points to 15%. The government's rating appears to have recovered with the share of those who support the government jumping by a full ten percentage points to 36.3%.

Judges say SDS leader's X post hateful

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Judicial Association condemned social media comments about judges and court costs posted by Democratic Party (SDS) leader Janez Janša as destructive and sexist, arguing that Janša was instigating hatred and fanning distrust in the judiciary. In a comment posted on X on Thursday about high litigation costs he has been ordered to pay in several recent defamation cases he lost, Janša said, among other things, that "when they find the right female judges, they can order a single person to pay more than EUR 65,500".

Women urged to report violence, which is still major issue

LJUBLJANA - Gender-based violence remains one of the most widespread violations of human rights globally, said Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, adding that Slovenia remains committed to protecting women and girls worldwide. Labour Minister Luka Mesec, who is also in charge of the family and social affairs, urged all victims to report violence. National Assembly President Urška Klakočar Zupančič stressed in her message that violence against women is a criminal act and must be treated as such. According to EU data, the share of women in Slovenia who were victims of physical and/or sexual violence and threats is 22.5%, while the share of victims of sexual harassment is 31.7%.

Freedom Movement wants local politician suspected of paedophilia to resign

LJUBLJANA - The ruling Freedom Movement called for the resignation of a local politician suspected of attempting to arrange intimate meetings with minors, while also urging a review of legislation protecting underage individuals. While police remain tight-lipped about the investigation, media reports suggest the man is a mayor elected on the ticket of the Democratic Party (SDS). The SDS said this individual has not been the party's member "for some time" while it strongly condemned paedophilia and the exploitation of minors, "regardless of who the perpetrator of these despicable acts is".

Coal regions want measures in place for just transition

LJUBLJANA - Government representatives set out measures they say are already being taken to restructure Slovenia's two coal regions at a debate hosted by the upper chamber, while the regions' representatives urged measures to create jobs, make housing affordable and open new business zones. The conference sought to answer the question whether everyone is aware of the meaning of just transition. "If you ask me personally, the answer is no," said Velenje Mayor Peter Dermol. PM Robert Golob meanwhile met local representatives of the Šalek Valley saying that the government will strive to ensure social security and jobs for miners of the Velenje coal mine and their families, as the country is planing to wind down the mine and the nearby thermal plant TEŠ.

Jušić stays police commissioner while court does not abolish vetting commission's reasoning

LJUBLJANA - The Administrative Court has established that the commission vetting Senad Jušić for police commissioner provided no explanation about why or how it found he had eight years of working experience in leading positions in the public sector, a key job criterium. This made the commission's reasoning imperfect to the point it did not allow the court to test the decision. Jušić's years of experience were challenged by Boštjan Lindav, a former acting police commissioner who lost the post to Jušić in February 2023. However, Jušić stays on. The Interior Ministry said the court found the commission's decision illegal due to poor reasoning, but did not annul the appointment, therefore Jušić remains police commissioner.

Foreign tourist arrivals up by 15% in October

LJUBLJANA - Almost 472,000 tourist arrivals and 1.1 million tourist nights were recorded in Slovenia in October, which is 12% and 8% more year-on-year, respectively, the Statistics Office reported. The number of foreign tourist arrivals was up by 15% to almost 339,000, and the number of nights spent by foreign tourists was up by 11% to 772,000. Same as in October last year, guests from Germany generated the most overnight stays among foreign tourists - 106,000 or 14% of all nights, followed by Austrians, Italians, Croats, Americans and Hungarians.

Business sentiment improves

LJUBLJANA - Business sentiment improved in November after dropping in September and October. The indicator was at -3.1 percentage points, up by 0.9 points compared to October and up by 2.2 points compared to November 2023, the Statistics Office said. The sentiment indicator was pulled up by four out of five indicators. The indicator in retail was up by 0.8 points, in construction by 0.2 points, and in services and manufacturing by 0.1 point each. On the other hand, the indicator among consumers dropped by 0.3 points.

Use of new tobacco, nicotine products on the rise among teens

LJUBLJANA - New tobacco and nicotine products are increasingly popular among secondary school students, and the share of students who smoke is no longer falling, Helena Koprivnikar from the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) said as she presented the results of a survey the NIJZ conducted among 1,207 secondary school students aged 16 or 17 in November 2023. Girls use cigarettes and e-cigarettes, while boys opt for smokeless tobacco products and nicotine pouches.

Maribor bookshop target of anti-LGBTIQ+ attack again

MARIBOR - After experiencing repeated anti-LGBTIQ+ violence during this year's Pride Month, an independent bookshop in Maribor witnessed another attack this weekend. Unknown perpetrators plastered the bookshop with hateful graffiti and stickers saying "family, home, god, Slovenian order" and "end of the left, Slovenian order," said Anja Zag Golob, the editor-in-chief of VigeVageKnjige, the publishing house which owns the bookshop. The attack was condemned by the mayor and by the advocate of the principle of equality.

Founder of publisher Miš honoured as 40th Slovenian Book Fair opens

LJUBLJANA - Janez Miš, the founder of the publisher Miš, was honoured with the Schwentner Prize for his life-time contribution to Slovenian publishing, at the opening event of the 40th Slovenian Book Fair, organised by the Chamber of Publishers at the GZS. Opening to the public tomorrow, the fair brings over 280 events until Sunday. Croatia is the country in focus while Slovenske Konjice is the Slovenian guest town. The organisers expect the fair, which features 110 exhibitors, including all major Slovenian publishers, to attract 60,000 visitors.

*Slovenia defeat Portugal and qualify for Euro 2025

KOPER - Slovenia's men's national basketball team defeated Portugal in round four of the European Championship qualifier in front of the home crowd. The victory of 83:82 came on the heels of a painful defeat in Portugal last week, and has already bought the team a ticket to Euro 2025, as Israel defeated Ukraine a bit after the end of the match in Koper. Slovenia thus qualified for the EuroBasket for the 15th time in a row. Their best result came in 2017 when team Slovenia was crowned European champions.