News roundup - Thursday, 6 February, until 3pm

MPs pass bill temporarily lowering network charges

LJUBLJANA - The coalition majority at the National Assembly passed a bill reducing the electricity network charge for households for January and February. The coalition parties, which proposed the bill, argued that households that invested into the green transition should be protected from disproportionate energy price hikes. In the most expensive time band the fee will be reduced to the level of the second most expensive time band. The resulting deficit, estimated at EUR 19.5 million, will be covered by the grid operator ELES.

Annual inflation slightly up to 2% in January

LJUBLJANA - The annual inflation rate in Slovenia hit 2% in January, while deflation of 0.4% was recorded at monthly level, the Statistics Office (SURS) said. While consumer prices increased by 2% from January 2024, SURS said that a year ago the inflation rate was as high as 3.3%. Annual inflation was mostly driven by 3% higher prices of transport and by 2.3% higher prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, each group contributing 0.4 of a percentage point. At monthly level, winter sales pushed inflation down as consumer prices were on average 0.4% lower than in December 2024.

President appalled by Trump's Gaza deportation proposal

LJUBLJANA - President Nataša Pirc Musar called for a resolute stand against the proposal by US President Donald Trump for forced deportation of Palestinians. "I am appalled that despite such forced deportations being recognised as crimes against humanity, these actions are not only tolerated today, but even proposed as solutions," she said in a statement on X, which does not mention Trump specifically. The president added that the forced relocation or deportation of Palestinians from Gaza would constitute a blatant violation of a fundamental achievement of modern international society.

Foreign Minister Fajon visiting Syria

DAMASCUS, Syria - Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon will visit Syria to hold talks with several representatives of the transitional government there, including President Ahmed al-Sharaa and her Syrian counterpart Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. While in Damascus, she plans to support an inclusive political transition, the protection of minorities, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, the Foreign Ministry has said. It also announced on X today that Fajon will visit the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Syria. Damascus is the third leg on her tour of the Middle East, which has so far included stops in Jordan and Lebanon, where she advocated for peace and stability in the region.

Opposition NSi wants answers about Patria APCs purchase

LJUBLJANA - The opposition New Slovenia (NSi) has requested a session of the parliamentary Public Finance Oversight Commission to get answers about the planned purchase of eight-wheeled armoured personnel carriers (APCs) from the Finnish defence contractor Patria, which the party believes is not being handled transparently. The NSi believes the planned deal for the purchase of 106 Patria vehicles, estimated at EUR 700 million, is not transparent and that Slovenia will "pay more to get less," said MP Janez Žakelj.

Young doctors turn to EU Commission over "intolerable" situation

LJUBLJANA - A group advocating for doctors in post-graduate education has addressed a letter to the European Commission, raising alarm over what they see as an "intolerable situation in Slovenian healthcare". Instead of listening to expert bodies, the government heeds the advice of "street NGOs", while people are left to fend for themselves in the face of poor access to health services, Young Doctors said. The organisation decided to take the issue to the Commission after learning that the European People's Party (EPP) was planning a fact-finding mission of the European Parliament to Slovenia to examine what the EPP sees as a worrying situation in the media and the rule of law.

Slovenia unhappy with efforts for fair elections in S Sudan

NEW YORK, US - The government of South Sudan is not doing enough for a fair, free and credible election to be held in the country, Slovenia's Deputy Ambassador to the UN Security Council Ondina Blokar Drobič said. Similar to other Security Council members, Slovenia believes South Sudan is not doing enough for the election, with Blokar Drobič expressing concern over the general humanitarian situation in the country. She pointed to the continued violence among communities, extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, assaults targetting humanitarian workers, cattle theft and other criminal acts. Blokar Drobič also expressed Slovenia's unwavering support for the UNMISS mission.

Slovenia's Culture Day marked in Belgium

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The Slovenian community in Belgium marked the upcoming Culture Day, observed on 8 February, with a ceremony at the new premises shared by the Slovenian Embassy and the Permanent Mission to the EU on Wednesday evening, after an exhibition of portraits of key Slovenian historical figures by painter Izidor Tomaž Perko opened at the European Parliament in the afternoon. Today, a ceremony was also held at a monument in the European Quarter bearing the first verse of Slovenia's anthem, written by Prešeren, in all official languages of the EU, hosted by MEP Milan Zver (EPP/SDS).