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This summary is provided by the STA:
New record as almost 17,500 coronavirus cases confirmed
LJUBLJANA - Slovenia confirmed 17,491 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, by far the highest daily figure since the start of the pandemic and an increase of more than 40% on the week before. The positive cases come from the highest daily number of PCR tests performed to date, almost 23,000. There were 670 patients with Covid-19 in hospital this morning, up by over a hundred from a week ago, whereas ICU cases declined by 24 over the week before to 127.
Golob elected new head of renamed green party, Janša says he is "Janković exam resit"
LJUBLJANA - Robert Golob, the former chairman of energy trader Gen-I who is generally seen as the most serious rival of PM Janez Janša in the upcoming general election, became the leader of the non-parliamentary green party formerly known as Z.Dej, which has been renamed Movement Freedom. Janša has commented on Golob venturing into politics saying it was an "exam resit by Zoran Janković", referring to Golob in 2011 becoming a vice-president of Positive Slovenia, a party formed by Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Janković that won the 2011 general election but failed to form a government. Instead, the government was formed by Janša.
Foreign Policy Committee acquainted with new foreign policy strategy
LJUBLJANA - The Foreign Policy Committee got acquainted with the country's new foreign policy strategy, with Foreign Ministry State Secretary Gašper Dovžan saying that most of the changes were made because the international environment had changed. The opposition expressed some reservations, in particular about Slovenia no longer being referred to as a core EU member state. Dovžan said there was more focus on the role of the EU as Slovenia's main political, economic, legal and value environment.
Minister says risk too grave to ease Covid restrictions
BREŽICE - Health Minister Janez Poklukar warned that Slovenia is yet to see the Omicron-driven wave of coronavirus outbreak hit its plateau, arguing the risk is still too great for any easing of restrictions. He said the risk would remain high until the curves of infections and hospital admissions started turning down. The epidemic is still in expansion and this week alone 33% more patients have been hospitalised and there were 85% more fatalities than the week before, said the minister.
PM talks energy challenges, tourism opportunities in Posavje
BREŽICE - The Posavje region still has many challenges to meet despite its breakthrough in reaching the Slovenian average, PM Janez Janša said as part of the cabinet's visit to the region. He highlighted challenges in the energy sector as the top priority, but also noted the role of other efforts, including tourism development. Janša noted that ten years ago Posavje had been 12 percentage points behind the Slovenian average in terms of development, but today it was at the level of the country's average. He also visited the Faculty of Tourism in Brežice, welcoming the faculty's plans to expand its capacities.
Bill passed to reduce sick pay cost on employer, energy poverty bill rejected
LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed a bill that will reduce the cost of sick pay on the employer at the expense of the public healthcare fund, with a majority of the opposition opposing it due to this expected consequence. Tabled by a group of MPs headed by Marko Bandelli of the opposition Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB), the bill reduces the period of sick leave when compensation is covered by the employer or sole trader from 30 to 20 work days and the total within each calendar year from 120 to up to 80 days. On the other hand, the MPs defeated another opposition-sponsored bill proposing energy vouchers.
MPs against referendum on deal over Boxer APCs purchase
LJUBLJANA - The opposition Left's motion to call a referendum on the government's purchase of Boxer armoured personnel vehicles (APCs) from the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) did not receive sufficient support in parliament. MPs may now continue with the ratification of the agreement with OCCAR. Only eight MPs voted in favour of the proposal, that is all seven MPs from the Left and MP Željko Cigler, a former member of the Left who recently quit the party's deputy faction and instead joined the one by the SocDems. A total of 42 MPs were against the motion and 27 abstained.
Slovenia calls for de-escalation in Ukraine
LJUBLJANA - Foreign Ministry State Secretary Gašper Dovžan expressed concern about the Ukraine crisis and called for a de-escalation. It is crucial that reason and dialogue prevail, he told the Foreign Policy Committee. "We are keeping an eye on the situation and remain on the side of peace. We have been calling for de-escalation."
Dovžan sees values at core of UN Security Council bid
LJUBLJANA - Foreign Ministry State Secretary Gašper Dovžan dismissed fears that the prime minister's recent statements on Taiwan may adversely affect the country's bid to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2024-2025. Slovenia is an advocate of the respect for human rights, of peace and stability, respect of international law and borders and the candidacy will be a good opportunity to show which of these values enjoy support in the international community, he told the Foreign Policy Committee.
Vice-governor candidate highlights inflation as challenge
LJUBLJANA - Marjan Divjak, candidate for vice-governor at Slovenia's central bank, said that the bank should actively participate in monetary policy-making in the eurozone, highlighting elevated inflation and climate change as the biggest future challenges. "Monetary policy-making will be extremely challenging in the coming years," he said during a presentation at the Presidential Palace. Divjak believes the financial sector will play a key role in the transition towards an environmentally sustainable economy.
Bishop of Celje forms office for victims to report sex abuse
CELJE - Maksimilijan Matjaž, the Bishop of Celje, has founded an office to admit complaints by and monitor the victims of sexual abuse committed by the clergy and other members of religious life in a bid to help the victims and prevent repeat of this type of crime. A post on the website of the Celje Diocese announcing the formation of the new office refers to an apostolic letter by Pope Francis of May 2019 instructing dioceses to form one or more permanent systems easily accessible to the public to report sexual abuse committed by the clergy or members of consecrated life or societies of apostolic life.
Judge Masleša shows diploma, berates Council for falling for media allegations
LJUBLJANA - Supreme Court judge Branko Masleša has shown his diploma and refuted suggestions by some media that he may not have graduated in law or passed the bar exam in in response to a call by the Judicial Council to do so, criticising the body for "falling for imputation in some media", which he says is politically-motivated. He said the council's actions undermined his reputation as a judge and the reputation of the judiciary as a whole.
Spar Slovenija's ex-boss Igor Mervič becomes Manager of the Year
LJUBLJANA - The Manager Association picked Igor Mervič as the Manager of the Year for transforming retailer Spar Slovenija from a company with four stores into the country's second largest retailer during his 28 years as director general. Mervič led Spar Slovenija between 1992 and the end of 2020. He is now a member of its supervisory board, and an adviser at the Spar multinational.
Man who stalked, harassed judge arrested
LJUTOMER - A man who has stalked a Ljutomer judge for ten years and recently smashed the windscreen on the judge's car has been detained. The prosecution initially argued there were no grounds for detention, but it changed its mind after the perpetrator continued his threats on social media.