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.
This summary is provided by the STA:
Prime Minister Janša survives impeachment vote
LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša survived an impeachment vote in parliament as 42 deputies voted in favour and 44 against. A 46-vote majority would have been required to impeach him. The motion was sponsored by the LMŠ, SD, Left and SAB, who accused Janša of violating several articles of the constitution and laws pertaining to healthcare, media, and the state prosecution. LMŠ deputy Jani Möderndorfer described Janša's conduct as "arbitrary, authoritarian, harmful and dangerous" and "in ridicule of democracy and his own country and people". Janša dismissed the claims saying the impeachment motion contained "so many absurd things that it does not make sense to answer all of them, and it does not make sense to quarrel about that". He said Slovenia was not in for a disaster as claimed by the opposition, but had very optimistic times ahead.
Janša counting on close cooperation with EU Parliament during presidency
BRUSSELS, Belgium/LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša highlighted the EU's resilience and post-pandemic recovery as key topics of Slovenia's upcoming EU presidency at today's virtual meeting with the European Parliament's Conference of Presidents. Slovenia will cooperate closely with the Parliament, Janša said. He also highlighted cybersecurity and the Conference on the Future of Europe, and proposed the creation of an European institute for constitutional law. European Parliament President David Sassoli said many issues which would need to be tackled during Slovenia's presidency had been discussed. The financing of the STA was also discussed. Janša provided his explanation about the financing, Sassoli said, adding that the Parliament deemed press freedom an important matter.
Pahor receives senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi
LJUBLJANA - Yang Jiechi, the director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC), was received by President Borut Pahor. The president's office said in a press release that Pahor and Yang had exchanged views on the topical issues in the international community and called for stronger bilateral relations. Pahor pointed to the importance of multilateralism and responsibility for global peace and development for the benefit of the present and future generations.
Govt could annul procedure to pick delegated prosecutors
LJUBLJANA - The government could vote on a proposal to annul the procedure to appoint Slovenia's two European delegated prosecutors as early as tomorrow, and then publish a new call for applications. According to Delo, the proposal to annul the procedure, labelled internal, has been submitted by the acting secretary general of the government, Janja Garvas Hočevar. PM Janez Janša said the government would check the appointment procedure Thursday to decide whether to proceed with it or repeat it. State Prosecutor General Drago Šketa sees this as an arbitrary and unlawful invasion of independence of state prosecution.
Slovenia remains in yellow tier of Covid restrictions
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia remains in tier yellow of coronavirus restrictions, despite meeting the conditions for the green tier. The current regime will remain in place until 6 June, save for some changes to rules governing the convention industry, the government decided. The decision comes after the Health Ministry's advisory group on Covid-19 proposed that measures not be eased. National coordinator of the Covid-19 vaccination logistics Jelko Kacin said there had been some events last weekend where many people had gathered and that experts were monitoring the situation in these regions now.
Slight easing of border restrictions, new red list of countries confirmed
LJUBLJANA - The government amended the decree governing coronavirus restrictions on borders. Effective on 30 May, accompanied children under 15 will not need to have a Covid certificate to avoid quarantine when they cross the border in groups accompanied by teachers or custodians or travel with family members who are not required to quarantine. The red list of countries will be split to lower- and higher-risk countries, designated as light and dark red. Covid certificates from Serbia will be recognised, after the move had been announced by both countries' foreign ministers yesterday.
Furlough payments extended until end of June
LJUBLJANA - The government decided to extend the furlough scheme by another month, until the end of June, in a bid to reduce the risk that companies facing slow demand or a negative productivity shock start laying off workers. Government data show furlough subsidies cost the treasury EUR 533 million through 3 May and benefited over 214,000 workers at almost 32,000 companies. The one-month extension is projected to cost EUR 28 million.
Covid-19: 7-day average drops below 300
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia reported 388 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday as the 7-day average of daily coronavirus cases dropped below 300 to 287, meaning Slovenia has reached the threshold to move to tier green, the mildest tier of restrictions. Another five Covid-19 patients died, fresh government data show. The positivity rate was 9.2%, same as the day before. The number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals fell to 277 this morning, with 85 still in intensive care, which is seven fewer than yesterday. The latest government data show some 20% of adults have been fully inoculated.
Vaccine supply expected to improve as of next week
LJUBLJANA - After Slovenia's vaccination centres reported they have been receiving fewer Covid-19 vaccines this week than they have ordered, Jelko Kacin, the national vaccination logistics coordinator said that more doses would be available in June, and that a major shipment of the AstraZeneca vaccine was expected this Friday. While two-thirds of all doses are currently used for the first jab, the increased supply means that next week two-thirds of all doses will be intended for first jabs.
Zorčič: In case of 46 votes, we have a new coalition
LJUBLJANA - Speaker Igor Zorčič said that the National Assembly will vote on the coalition's proposal to dismiss him as parliamentary speaker on Friday, unless an MP proposes the item be removed from the agenda. He said he had put the proposals of appointments and dismissals on Friday's agenda of the ongoing extraordinary plenary session. Asked whether he could still step down before the scheduled vote, Zorčič said that the National Assembly should count oneself, even if that means a vote on his office.
IMF commends Slovenia's response to Covid, says consolidation must follow
WASHINGTON, US - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) commended Slovenia's "swift, substantial, and well-coordinated policy responses" to the pandemic following consultations with the authorities earlier in May, as it stressed that once the recovery is entrenched, the focus should shift toward consolidation. While a strong economic rebound is expected as the pandemic abates, "the outlook is clouded by significant uncertainty and risks are tilted to the downside."
10th Africa Day conference dedicated to water management
LJUBLJANA - The participants of the ongoing 10th Africa Day international virtual conference, which is dedicated to water management, agreed that cooperation between Europe and Africa was of key importance in order to ensure access to drinking water for all. The event is held under the auspices of President Borut Pahor, who said that water was an exceptionally important topic that should be paid the maximum possible attention everywhere in the world. Both he and FM Anže Logar pointed to security challenges related to management of water resources.
NGOs want inquiry into targeting of foreign protesters
LJUBLJANA - Several NGOs warned that police identified and fined mostly foreigners ahead of and during last week's protests in Ljubljana, which they see as inadmissible ethical profiling. The Slovenian Philanthropy, Amnesty International Slovenia and the Peace Institute stressed the right to protest, in particular for the Palestinian community in Slovenia, which they said was violated last Friday. The Human Rights Ombudsman is investigating the matter.
Ex-Maribor Archdiocese treasurer to publish book, points finger at Vatican
LJUBELJ - Mirko Krašovec, the Maribor Archdiocese's ex-treasurer who has been cleared of EU funds abuse charges after two retrials, will publish a book to give his take on the developments leading to the archdiocese's financial collapse and the role of its two financial holdings as part of the financial crisis ten years ago. In the 600-page book that is about to be published, he proposes establishing an independent commission to look into all the circumstances of the collapse, pointing the finger at the archdiocese's disloyal business partners from Slovenia and Italy, "foremost from the Vatican Bank".
Equal opportunities ombudsman says deaf disadvantaged in education
LJUBLJANA - In a special report on deaf people in the education system, Advocate of the Principle of Equality Miha Lobnik notes that they are disadvantaged when it comes to exercising their rights. He called on the relevant authorities to ensure greater and more active protection of deaf people and users of the Slovenian sign language from discrimination. What speaks about people with deafness and hearing loss being in a worse position is data on education, which show that in 2011 only 1% of them had higher education, while this share in the entire population stands at 17%, Lobnik's office said.
Waters act referendum proponents convinced voters will say no
LJUBLJANA - The proponents of the referendum on changes to the waters act, scheduled for 11 July, believe that they will be able to convince the voters to reject what they see as controversial legislation despite the unfavourable date. They expect a difficult campaign ahead in which the other side could mislead people and instigate divisions. The initiative for the referendum was given by an alliance of green non-governmental organisations.
May Salon 2021 brings review of ceramics, drawings & sculptures
LJUBLJANA - The annual May Salon, the country's oldest art exhibition, is opening tonight in Ljubljana, bringing an exhibition of ceramics, while drawings and sculptures will be displayed at the end of June in the city of Koper. Ceramics will be put on show as part of May Salon, the annual exhibition of the Slovenian Association of Fine Arts Societies (ZDSLU), at two venues in Ljubljana until 1 July.
