News roundup - Thursday, 27 February

Govt think tank slightly downgrades 2025 growth forecast to 2.1%

LJUBLJANA - IMAD, the government's macroeconomic forecaster, downgraded the GDP growth forecast for this year from 2.4% to 2.1%. For next year it reduced the rate by 0.2 points, to 2.4%. Average annual inflation is expected to stand at 2.3% this year. Growth this year is projected to outpace the 1.6% that the Statistics Office recently assessed was recorded in 2024. However, despite this acceleration, the pace remains slightly weaker than previously anticipated in autumn.

EBRD downgrades Slovenia's 2025 GDP growth forecast from 2.6% to 2%

LONDON, UK - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) downgraded its GPD growth forecast for Slovenia for this year, as it did for the broader region in which it operates. For Slovenia, the 2025 growth forecast has been adjusted from 2.6% to 2%, primarily due to subdued domestic demand, while the country's economy is expected to expand by 2.4% in 2026 if trade-related risks do not materialise.

Anti-graft watchdog refers defector MP case to police

LJUBLJANA - The Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (KPK) said it had referred a case involving allegations against MP Tine Novak, who left the ruling Freedom Movement's deputy group a month ago to form a new deputy group alongside Anže Logar and Eva Irgl, former members of the opposition Democratic Party (SDS). The watchdog had been looking into cooperation between Logar and Novak after the former said that he had helped Novak with his connections to get the post of OSCE special envoy for artificial intelligence. Speculation arose then whether this was a case of quid pro quo.

Govt sticks to asset probe threshold in illegal wealth crackdown act

LJUBLJANA - The government has confirmed draft changes to the Act on the Confiscation of Assets of Illicit Origin, but has, contrary to original announcements, not lowered the EUR 50,000 threshold for launching investigations. "The entry threshold remains at EUR 50,000. However, I believe this will still be the subject of in-depth debate in the National Assembly," Justice Minister Andreja Katič said about the rejected ministry's proposals to lower the threshold to EUR 10,000 or at least to EUR 30,000. The changes meanwhile do introduce the option to confiscate substitute assets.

SDS wants parliament session on de-bureaucratisation

LJUBLJANA - The Democratic Party (SDS) deputy group called for an emergency session of the National Assembly to discuss the opposition party's recommendations for reducing red tape and improving the business environment in Slovenia. The SDS would have the National Assembly recommend to the government to take a position on the measures proposed by businesses, including by the Chamber of Craft and Small Business (OZS), and at the Business Summit from last November. The National Assembly should also call on the government to take a position on the measures to reduce red tape for farmers and citizens.

PM's top intl. aide handing over part of duties

LJUBLJANA - Diplomat Vojko Volk will hand over part of his duties as state secretary in the prime minister's office in charge of international affairs and national and international security, as Maja Božović, an international relations advisor at the office, will take over international affairs on 1 March. Božović, an experienced diplomat who has spent most of her professional career at the European External Action Service, has not been appointed state secretary though.

Slovenian minority in Austria welcomes coalition agreement

KLAGENFURT, Austria - The National Council of Carinthian Slovenians (NSKS), an umbrella organisation of the Slovenian minority in Austria, welcomed the coalition agreement that would serve as the basis for the formation of the new Austrian government, noting that it mentions all six ethnic minorities, including the Slovenian one. The NSKS said that the People's Party (ÖVP), the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and NEOS have committed to strengthening all minorities, which will be "anchored in the constitution and will thus be clearly recognised". It hopes that the promises will be fulfilled, especially in education, an area where the Slovenian minority has suffered the greatest damage.

Choirmaster and conductor Mirko Cuderman dies

LJUBLJANA - Conductor, choirmaster, musicologist and Prešeren Prize laureate Mirko Cuderman died at the age of 94. With his work he raised amateur choral music to the level of professional musicians, the choral music magazine Naši Zbori wrote. He received several awards for his work. In addition to the Prešeren Prize for lifetime achievement in 2022, he also received the Župančič Prize (1993), the Order of Freedom (2001) and the Order of Merit (2007).

Slovenian artists part of exhibition on freeing voices in Graz

GRAZ, Austria - The exhibition Freeing the Voices by Slovenian curator Zdenka Badovinac opened at the Kunsthaus Graz in Austria, featuring three Slovenian artists - Ida Hiršenfelder, Irena Z. Tomažin and Tao G. Vrhovec Sambolec. In all, more than 20 artists and collectives will be featured at the exhibition, which was co-curated by Martin Grabner. It will run until 24 August.