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This summary is provided by the STA:
Pahor says PM-designate could be proposed around 23 May
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor told election winner Robert Golob he would "fully cooperate" in efforts to make sure Slovenia gets a new government soon. He plans to nominate the prime minister-designate around 23 May, which would pave the way for the appointment of the new government in early June. "We want an operational government before the holiday," Golob said after he was received by Pahor for their first one-on-one after Sunday's election. He said the country needed to get ready if the Covid pandemic surges again, and it needed to prepare for high energy prices in autumn.
Purchase of Boxer armoured vehicles to cost EUR 343m
LJUBLJANA - The purchase of 45 Boxer armoured vehicles that Slovenia plans to acquire through the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) will cost EUR 343 million including tax, the Defence Ministry said after the agreement with the OCCAR entered into effect following a Constitutional Court ruling that upheld a ban on a referendum on the matter. The deal involves 45 vehicles with armament, logistics services and project management costs. The purchase is "essential for the creation of the Slovenian Armed Forces' key capacity, which has been delayed for a long time - a medium-sized battalion battlegroup" that Slovenia will contribute "as a serious NATO member."
Janša casts Golob as pro-Russian
LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša alleged in a series of Twitter posts that Robert Golob, who defeated him in Sunday's general election with his Freedom Movement, is pro-Russian. "You really called those pro Russian guys "liberals"? Check your sources, please," Janša tweeted this afternoon, tagging a number of foreign media, including The New York Times, Reuters and Fox News. He described the Freedom Party, which foreign media designated as centrist and liberal, as "pro-Russian," backing his claims with alleged pro-Russian positions of the party's backers that he said had an "anti-European, pro-Russian background".
Pahor and Milanović discuss Brdo-Brijuni process
ZAGREB, Croatia - Slovenian President Borut Pahor held working talks with Croatian President Zoran Milanović. The discussion focused on the next Brdo-Brijuni Process meeting and current issues in the region and in Europe. As co-chairs of the initiative, they propose that the next meeting take place in Slovenia, the president's office said. The pair also plan to meet in Rijeka, Croatia on 10 May to mark the 30th anniversary of the Union of Slovenian Associations in Rijeka.
Slovenia ready for military, humanitarian assistance to Ukraine
BERLIN, Germany - Slovenia supports Ukraine in its battle against Russia's aggression and is willing to provide military and humanitarian assistance, Defence Minister Matej Tonin said as he attended a meeting of a 40-country contact group for Ukraine at Ramstein airbase. Tonin used the occasion to talk to his German counterpart Christine Lambrecht about the realisation of an agreement under which Slovenia would give Yugoslav-era tanks to Ukraine via Germany in exchange for newer German-made armoured vehicles.
SD vice-president resigns over poor election result
LJUBLJANA - Jernej Pikalo has stepped down as one of the four vice-presidents of the Social Democrats (SD) over what he says is a poor election result for the party, which has won almost 7% of the vote and will have seven seats in the 90-strong parliament. Pikalo told the STA that he would like to encourage a discussion on what went wrong and how to proceed, adding he could offer a number of reasons for such a poor result. Noting he had nothing to do with it because he had not stood for election, Pikalo believes the idea of social democracy is best for people so it deserves more support than it won.
Doctor sentenced to three years in prison for accepting bribe
LJUBLJANA - Neuroradiologist Zoran Milošević was found guilty on Monday of accepting EUR 101,300 in gifts and of money laundering in a case involving the purchase of brain aneurysm closure coils, and sentenced to three years in prison and fined EUR 50,000. The Ljubljana District Court did not accept the prosecution's proposals to freeze Milošević's medical licence for two years, while ordering that the proceeds of crime be seized and the defendant cover the court fees. The defence has already announced an appeal.
Student wounded in shooting accident in Žužemberk school
ŽUŽEMBERK - A 13-year-old student sustained light injuries when a shot was inadvertently fired from a pistol on Tuesday morning in a primary school in Žužemberk, a small town about 50 kilometres south-east of Ljubljana. The accident was the result of careless handling of the weapon brought to school by a 14-year-old student. The firearm went off in a changing room in the presence of multiple students, Novo Mesto police spokesman Robert Perc said.
Covid situation stable despite spike in new cases
LJUBLJANA - A total of 1,546 new cases of coronavirus infection were recorded in Slovenia on Monday, a rise of 1,089 from Monday last week, when testing was low because of Easter. However, the number of estimated active cases in the country has dropped by 1,078 to 15,286 in a day, Health Ministry data shows. There are now 90 patients treated for coronavirus as their main diagnosis at regular Covid wards, down 13 from yesterday, and 15 in intensive care, down 2. The 14-day incidence per 100,000 population dropped by 1 to 771. Four persons died.
Slovenia earmarks EUR 10m for environment-friendly lorries
LJUBLJANA - The infrastructure and environment ministries have set aside EUR 10 million from the Climate Fund to promote more environmentally friendly road freight vehicles that run either on electricity or gas. The funds will be distributed to transport operators by electricity market operator Borzen. The grants are intended to co-finance the purchase of gas or electric lorries and buses, new tyres, the retrofitting of vehicles with aerodynamic parts to reduce air resistance and the decommissioning of old vehicles, Vrtovec said on the occasion. This will contribute to ensuring the green transition and lower fuel consumption.
Slovenian researchers get three ERC grants
LJUBLJANA - Projects led by astrophysicist Maruša Bradač, who researches the early history of the universe, and mathematician Franc Forstnerič, who works on Holomorphic partial differential relations, secured nearly EUR 2.1 million and EUR 1.5 million respectively as part of the European Research Council 2021 Advanced Grants competition. Forstnerič's is Slovenia's first ever maths project to win this prestigious grant. A third Advanced Grant, worth EUR 2.5 million, went to Koper Scientific Research Centre historian Borut Klabjan, who explores the history of cross-border practices in the Alps-Adriatic.
Two US Slovenians honoured with Medal of Merit
WASHINGTON - Slovenia has honoured American Slovenians Mark Ryavec and Stephen Antalics with the Medal of Merit for their efforts for the US to recognise independent Slovenia in the early 1990s. Slovenian Ambassador to the US Tone Kajzer handed them the decorations on behalf of President Borut Pahor at the Slovenian Embassy in Washington, DC, on Monday.
Postojna ready to receive orphans from Ukraine
POSTOJNA - A total of 20 orphans from Ukraine, aged 1-7, will arrive in Slovenia in the coming days to be accommodated near Postojna, with Mayor Igor Marentič saying that everything is ready for their arrival and that locals are offering help. The children will presumably arrive on the first day after the May Day holidays, at the start of next week, according to the Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants. The Ukrainian authorities must still give a go-ahead for their relocation.
