Check the date at the top of the page, and you can find all the "morning headlines" stories here. You can also follow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.
A schedule of all the main events involving Slovenia this week can be found here
This summary is provided by the STA:
Slovenia steps up containment efforts as coronavirus cases surge
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia stepped up containment activities as the number of coronavirus cases rose by 23 to 57. Spot checks were introduced at six points along the border with Italy, and all other road links with Italy have been closed and passenger train service suspended. Cargo transport will not be affected for now. A primary school in Kamnik was meanwhile shut down for two weeks after a teacher tested positive, and hospitals expanded precautionary measures as infections among health staff rose. There have been no fatalities so far, but that may soon change. One of the first individuals to test positive was transferred to intensive care today.
Slovenia may get new government on Friday
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia may get a new government Friday evening. The agenda for a college of deputy leaders called for Friday includes an extraordinary session of the National Assembly to appoint the cabinet. The session is to be called for 6:30pm the same day. Thus the government is to be appointed almost immediately after the last of the ministerial candidates are quizzed by relevant bodies on Friday.
Incoming finance minister indicates fiscal policy may be loosened
LJUBLJANA Andrej Šircelj, candidate for finance minister in the incoming Janez Janša government, indicated at his committee hearing that the new government would pursue a more expansionary fiscal policy if needed to counter the adverse effects of the coronavirus, even though sustainable public finances would be a top priority. Šircelj, who was confirmed in a 11:8 vote by the Finance Committee, said the overarching goal of the new treasury would be to ensure the stability and sustainability of public finances, which are in a "favourable position" with surpluses planned for this year and next and debt projected to decrease.
Interior minister candidate says border protection a priority
LJUBLJANA - Interior minister candidate Aleš Hojs told the relevant parliamentary committee that effective protection of borders, not only because of migrants but also the coronavirus, and reduction of administrative burdens on police would be his first priority in the emerging government of Janez Janša. The member of the Democrats (SDS) told the Home Affairs Committee, which confirmed him with a 11:8 vote, that additional fencing should be erected on the border with Croatia and that stronger fences should be erected along all sections where the largest new wave of migrants was expected. He believes that in order to effectively protect the southern border, the police needs to be given additional powers, which would require changing two to three relevant laws.
Prospective minister says public administration wage system not stimulative
LJUBLJANA - The prospective new public administration minister Boštjan Koritnik, who was endorsed in a parliamentary committee hearing on Wednesday, announced he would continue with efforts to address pay anomalies in the public sector. Koritnik wants a more flexible and stimulative pay system and better services. The 40-year-old assistant professor at the Ljubljana Faculty of Law, who was backed in an 11:7 vote, said that trade unions should be included in the efforts, since "we have not come here to destroy the system in the sector but to upgrade it".
Agriculture Ministry to stay the course under Pivec
LJUBLJANA - Aleksandra Pivec will stay on as agriculture minister in the new government and in her hearing at the Agriculture, Forestry and Food Committee on Wednesday she outlined what amounts to a continuation of her current course. The focus will be on strengthening agriculture, preserving the countryside and following the latest trends in the field. Pivec, who was endorsed in a 11:5 vote, said the countryside must be "settled, preserved and farmed", while special attention must be dedicated to the increasing age of farmers.
SDS sues Šarec over Hungary financing comments
LJUBLJANA - The Democratic Party (SDS) brought a defamation suit against outgoing Prime Minister Marjan Šarec over what it says are his untruthful and insulting allegations that the party was being financed from Hungary. Lawyer Franci Matoz filed the lawsuit on behalf of the party after the SDS threatened Šarec with a damages suit in mid-February unless he retracted certain of his comments.
Bill to crack down on militias struck down
LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Home Affairs Committee struck down legislative amendments proposed by the outgoing government in order to outlaw the activity of self-styled village guards or militias patrolling the border with the intention to stop illegal migrants. On the second reading, the committee voted five to ten against amendments to the protection of public order act and six to ten against amendments to the state border control act.
Slovenia's exports up 10.6% in January, imports rise by 5.2%
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia exported EUR 3 billion worth of goods in January while it imported EUR 2.8 billion. Exports were up 10.6% and imports 5.2% in year-on-year comparison, the Statistics Office said. The export/import ratio was 107.5%. A surplus in external trade was recorded year-on-year for January for the seventh consecutive time and it now reached the highest January level with EUR 207.4 million.
Cinkarna Celje reports lower 2019 profit
CELJE - Cinkarna Celje, the Celje-based chemical company, saw its net profit plunge by 29% last year to EUR 21.7 million as revenue rose by 5% to EUR 172.6 million. In a regulatory filing with the Ljubljana Stock Exchange, the management labelled the company's performance as successful and substantially above projections, despite the global economic uncertainty.
Visiting Ljubljana? Check out what's on this week, while all our stories on Slovenia, from newest to oldest, are here
If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here
