STA, 15 June 2020 - The Competition Protection Agency has decided to extend the temporary seizure of Mercator shares from the retailer's owner, Croatian group Agrokor. The latter has still not paid a EUR 53.9 million fine issued for its failure to notify the anti-trust watchdog of the 2016 takeover of Slovenian-based bottled water company Costella.

The Slovenian anti-trust agency, on whose behalf the Financial Administration seized 70% of Mercator shares from Agrokor last December, confirmed the decision for the STA on Monday.

It said the measure was being extended to protect the fine decision in line with an option which allows the seizure to be prolonged. It would not say what steps would follow, while explaining a confiscation of shares can be extended only once for a maximum of six months.

The seizure has been upheld by the Ljubljana District Court while an Agrokor challenge has recently been rejected by the Constitutional Court.

The move means it remains impossible to transfer a majority stake in Mercator from insolvent Agrokor to its successor Fortenova.

The transfer was already expected at the end of last year, but a failure to obtain consent from Mercator's creditor banks complicated the affair. Slovenia's biggest grocer, which was sold to Agrokor in 2014, owes over EUR 100 million to creditors and the loans will need to be rescheduled in mid-2021. Mercator's management expects no problems here.

Responding to the anti-trust agency's latest decision, Fortenova said today that it had not come as a surprise and expressed expectation that Mercator shares would be transferred onto Fortenova by the end of the year. It also said that it would continue fighting against the seizure with any mean available.

Meanwhile, Fortenova head Fabris Peruško has recently said that legal proceedings are still under way with respect to the seizure. He did not provide details, while mentioning the paying of the fine as one option as he expressed his expectation that conditions would soon be met for the transfer of Mercator to Fortenova.

Along with the lifting of the anti-trust watchdog's measure and the consent of all 56 Mercator creditors, a nod from the European Commission is also needed for the transfer. Fortenova expects the EU's greenlight in a few months.

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This summary is provided by the STA:

S&P affirms Slovenia's AA- rating

NEW YORK, US - Rating agency Standard & Poor's has affirmed Slovenia's AA- rating, arguing that the Slovenian economy, coupled with the government's policy response, puts Slovenia in a good position to weather the crisis. In its rating update on Friday the agency said "the past decade of private sector deleveraging and a decline of government debt to GDP since 2015 give Slovenia substantial buffers to weather the temporary shock without a lasting adverse impact on its credit metrics".

PM says necessary powers to act against militias already in place

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša indicated the government was willing to amend legislation to impose sanctions against militia groups such as the Štajerska Guard, but he told parliament in questions time the existing legislation already allowed that, it was just not applied consistently. He also drew parallels between the militia and anti-government protesters. "Law enforcement ... must respect the constitution and the law regardless of whether against a guard on foot or a guard on bicycles, regardless of whether they are wearing fatigues or black clothing and masks," he said.

State Prosecution denies involvement in border incident with Italy

LJUBLJANA - The Supreme State Prosecution has strongly denied any involvement in a border incident with Italy in which two alleged Slovenian soldiers stopped a civilian at gunpoint in May. The statement came in response to PM Janez Janša's allegation the incident was orchestrated by representatives of the deep state, including in the prosecution. The police has not yet responded to the STA's query about the incident, nor has the prime minister's office responded to Friday's query about how Janša would act if he indeed believed the incident had been orchestrated.

Italian army vehicle crosses into Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - An Italian military vehicle drove into Slovenian territory in the morning, but soon turned around and returned to Italy, the Slovenian police said. The incident happened at around 8:20 a.m. in the border town of Šempeter pri Gorici. The police is investigating the event, which happened in Goriška Street, as a border incident as defined in the state border control act, so it will notify the Foreign Ministry of its findings.

Ceremony held as Italy-Slovenia border reopens

NOVA GORICA - A ceremony was held at the former border crossing between Nova Gorica in Slovenia and Italy's Gorizia to mark the reopening of the borders after the coronavirus epidemic. As the mayors of both towns cut the ribbon that symbolically divided the towns, Nova Gorica Mayor Klemen Miklavič said fences were no longer a tool for problem solving. The fence in Europa Square between the two cities had been removed by protesters on bicycles on Friday evening.

Slovenia calls on Israel to refrain from annexation

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar said during questions and answers time in parliament that Slovenia is calling on Israel to "refrain from any unilateral decisions that would lead to the annexing of any of the occupied Palestinian territories and would as such run contrary to international law". As Matej Tašner Vatovec of the opposition Left expressed concern over Israel's annexation plans and the US peace proposal that would back unilateral annexing, Logar said "Slovenia continues to support all efforts for a peaceful solution of the dispute and for a revival of a peace process" that should be based on a two-state solution.

One new coronavirus case reported, one patient moved to ICU

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia recorded one new coronavirus case from 212 tests carried out on Sunday as one patient was moved to an intensive care unit, the first in almost two weeks, fresh data from the government show. The latest case brings the total number of Sars-CoV-2 cases so far confirmed at 1,496, out of which 23 remain active. Seven Covid-19 patients are now in hospital. The latest case was confirmed in Jesenice, which now has 10 active cases.

Anti-trust watchdog extends seizure of Mercator shares from Agrokor

LJUBLJANA/ZAGREB - The Competition Protection Agency (AVK) confirmed it had decided to extend the temporary seizure of Mercator shares from the retailer's owner, Croatian group Agrokor. The latter has still not paid a EUR 53.9 million fine issued for its failure to notify the anti-trust watchdog of the 2016 takeover of Slovenian-based bottled water company Costella. The AVK said the measure was being extended to protect the fine decision in line with an option which allows the seizure to be prolonged. Agrokor's health core spin-off Fortenova said it was not surprised and that it expected the shares transferred to by the end of the year.

Former Health Minister Šabeder appointed chief supervisor at Telekom

LJUBLJANA - The supervisory board of telecoms incumbent Telekom Slovenije appointed former Health Minister Aleš Šabeder its chair. Supervisors Barbara Gorjup and Grado Kijevčanin will serve as his deputies, the company said in a press release. Šabeder was appointed supervisor at the AGM in early June, replacing Dimitrij Marjanović, the representative of the state assets custodian Slovenian Sovereign Holding.

US embassy donates PPE and disinfection device

LJUBLJANA - The US Embassy in Ljubljana donated a second package of personal protective equipment to Slovenia, along with a Slovenian-made device that uses ultraviolet light to disinfect hospital premises. The donation will be used by health institutions in Slovenia as well as the Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief. In May the US Embassy donated 1,660 protective face shields intended for use in care homes. The joint value of the two donations is US$60,000.

Hojs, Kangler talk illegal migrations

LJUBLJANA/ZAGREB - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs and his State Secretary Franc Kangler discussed illegal migrations on Monday as they met representatives of locals along the border with Croatia and the Croatian home affairs state secretary, respectively. Kangler and Croatian Interior Ministry State Secretary Terezija Gras discussed the illegal migration situation and a police cooperation agreement, while Hojs hosted representatives of three civil initiatives to discuss the situation in their municipalities as migration pressure is rising again, presenting a set of measures designed to reduce illegal migrations.

PM says media freedom assessments should wait until end of term

LJUBLJANA - Faced with a question in parliament about international public being critical of freedom of the media in Slovenia, PM Janez Janša said that the judgement about that should be made at the end of the government's term. Regarding his tweeting, Janša said he understand this as his freedom of expression. Answering a question from Nataša Sukič of the opposition Left, the prime minister noted that in a key international rankings of freedom of the media, Slovenia fared the best during his first government (2004-2008), standing in 9th place.

SDS ahead, SocDems replace LMŠ in second Vox Populi poll

LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša's Democrats (SDS) continue to lead the field in the latest Vox Populi poll, while the Social Democrats (SD) came ahead of the fellow opposition Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ) in second. The poll, commissioned by the newspapers Dnevnik and Večer, has the SDS polling at 22.7%, up 0.6 percentage points from the month before. The SD nearly doubled its rating to 15.2% and its new leader Tanja Fajon climbed to second spot in the popularity ranking of politicians.

Free public transport for pensioners from July

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša announced that inter-city public transportation would be free of charge for pensioners and persons with disabilities, among others, from 1 July 2020, as envisaged by the legislative changes that were passed under the previous government. In questions time in parliament, Janša said all legal acts enabling the implementation of the act were in the making and the relevant ministry had asserted the act would be implemented as expected.

Govt expects boost in foreign tourism in second half of summer

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša believes that tourism vouchers will significantly help the sector as it is transitioning from the lockdown, while the government expects an increase in visits by foreign tourists in the second part of the summer season. One of the reasons is the positive effect of the end of epidemic being declared early. In questions time in parliament, Janša said around 24,000 positive mentions of Slovenia followed the move in global media in one weekend alone.

NLB supervisory board expanded to include employee reps

LJUBLJANA - The shareholders of the NLB bank expanded the supervisory board from nine to twelve members to include representatives of employees by amending the articles of association in line with a Constitutional Court ruling. Likewise, the management board will be expanded by one member to seven. The meeting also endorsed Verica Trstenjak, a former advocate general at the European Court of Justice, as a new supervisor, and current chief supervisor Primož Karpe and member David Eric Simon were endorsed for another full term. The distributable profit of EUR 228 million was retained.

Legal opinion warns against moving 2TDK to rail operator

LJUBLJANA - While the Infrastructure Ministry is yet to take a final decision on whether to transfer 2TDK, the company in charge the new Koper-Divača railway track project, to Slovenske Železnice, a legal opinion commissioned by the national railways operator and obtained by the newspaper Dnevnik warned that such a move could be fatal for the project, seen as crucial for the Koper port. The opinion by the legal consultancy Jadek&Pensa argues the transfer would entail "excessive risks".

Hisense Gorenje to produce TVs in existing plant

VELENJE - Home appliances maker Hisense Gorenje has decided to produce TV sets in existing production facilities, having previously planned to build a new plant at its Velenje location. TV production is scheduled to start in early 2021, according to plans presented to the works council. An assembly line for TV sets is scheduled for completion at the end of this year, with production slated to be launched in January 2021. An average of 350 employees will work on the production line.

Poll: Vast majority for shop closure on Sundays

LJUBLJANA - A Vox Populi poll commissioned by the newspapers Dnevnik and Večer shows that as many as 87% respondents support a ban on Sunday shopping, including those who frequent shops at the end of the week. The main reason for their support is that they believe other days in the week provide enough opportunities for shopping. Some 8% are not in favour of closure of stores on Sundays, whereas almost 5% did not weigh in on the issue. Almost 20% shop on Sundays.

Zero tolerance of violence urged on Elder Abuse Awareness Day

LJUBLJANA - On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, representatives of the elderly underscored the unacceptability of any kind of violence against the elderly. According to Ana Gorenc Vujnović from the Anton Trstenjak Institute, almost 60,000 elderly people in Slovenia experience violence. The most frequent form is negligence, Gorenc Vujnović told the newspaper Delo. "This is followed by physiological, physical, and economic violence," she said.

Crisis bonuses push up April net pay

LJUBLJANA - Average net pay in Slovenia in April stood at EUR 1,266, which was 10.5% more than in March nominally and 11.5% more in real terms. The Statistics Office reported that the increase was mostly related to the payment of crisis bonuses during the Covid-19 epidemic. Average gross pay was up by 10.2% nominally and by 11.2% in real terms compared to March to EUR 1,937. In the public sector it rose by 10.9% and in the private sector it increased by 8.6%.

Lighting Guerilla Festival begins

LJUBLJANA - The 14th international Lighting Guerilla Festival, dedicated to contemporary visual and new-media art, is getting under way in Ljubljana tonight under the theme Five Elements. The concept leans on the ancient tradition of the four classical elements - earth, water, air and fire, which is joined by a fifth element, which could be interpreted as a mysterious matter of the Universe, according to the organisers. Centred in and around Vžigalica Gallery, the festival runs until 11 July.

Air France resuming Ljubljana-Paris flights next week

BRNIK/PARIS - French flag carrier Air France will resume flights between Ljubljana and Paris next Wednesday. Daily services between the two capitals are expected to be relaunched on 14 July. The airline plans to go back to 80% of its pre-corona flight destinations this summer. Next week will see two flight connections between Ljubljana and Paris, on Wednesday and Saturday service. Later on, the number of flights will steadily grow until mid-July when flying to Paris will be possible every day per week.

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here

The bathing season, which officially begun this week, will be somewhat different to what we’ve been used to. Last Tuesday the National Institute of Public Health finally announced the new preventive measures that managers of pools, beaches and seawater areas will have to implement. Concerns have been raised that the requirements for social distancing will be difficult to put into practice.

According to the new pandemic prevention regulations, 1.5m social distance should be kept among visitors on shore, and 2m in water. Only members of the same household can sunbathe or swim in groups.

Some of the measures taken to ensure social distancing on the central beach of Portorož are floor markings, warning signs and greater distance between umbrellas, explained Jana Pines from Piran Environment for RTV Slovenia.  Furthermore, she explained, contact surfaces such as toilets will be regularly disinfected, for which they will need more staff than they planned. Most difficulties, however, are expected with regard to keeping visitors at the requested social distance, especially in the sea, “where it is practically impossible to verify whether swimmers come from the same household or not”.

Duško Madžarović, the director of the Koper Public Sports Institute, which manages the swimming pool in Žusterna, also pointed to this problem. In a statement for RTV Slovenia he emphasized that staff do not have the authority to ask for the guests’ identity to find out whether they are from the same household or not.

There’s nothing quite like filling your lungs with fresh air in nature’s peaceful embrace. Old or young, fit or less so – hiking can be enjoyed by all.  If you happen to be in Slovenia, a hiker’s paradise, your odds of finding the perfect trail are more than excellent. So let’s take a look at a few hiking trips you shouldn’t miss out on.

To describe Slovenes as avid hikers would be a gross understatement. Hitting the mountain trails is nothing short of a national pastime. And who can blame them? One of the greenest countries in the world presents incredible hiking opportunities everywhere you go. Weather permitting, the locals are off walking through a nearby forest, down country lanes, or further afield to a more hilly or mountainous parts to venture onto the 10,000-km network of marked hiking trails.

One of the most popular hiking destinations is located just outside the capital city of Ljubljana. Nestled in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, the high mountain plateau of Velika planina makes a lovely day trip that includes undemanding hiking trails. Perfect for families, this scenic place affords spectacular views. Its peaceful pastures are dotted with grazing livestock and 140 authentic shepherd huts where traditional cheese-making is still going strong. Visitors can taste an assortment of hearty local dishes, including the hearty, all-Slovenian dish called žganci.

If you set your heart on a more adventurous hiking expedition, hut-to-hut hiking is an absolute must. Cosy and warm, mountain huts are situated in the most ridiculously stunning alpine locations and present a great chance to meet other hikers. Staying in huts while discovering the hidden gems of Triglav National Park is truly a remarkable experience. They also make wonderful pitstops on longer hikes, like the one to the sublimely beautiful Seven Lakes. There are over 181 mountain huts in Slovenia, but reserving your spot in advance is crucial, as they tend to fill up quickly during the high season.

Related: Rediscover Slovenia by bike

For adrenaline seekers, there’s a unique way of exploring the mountains: the via ferrata or “iron paths”. More climbing than hiking, these trails usually come equipped with pegs, carved steps, ladders and bridges, allowing relatively inexperienced hikers to tackle more demanding ascents and soak up the picturesque views. Mojstrana is a great place to start. Some via ferrata routs in the Julian Alps date back to WWI, when soldiers used them to fight at the Soča Front.

You’re not a true Slovene until you’ve conquered the country’s most famous via ferrata and the highest peak, Mount Triglav, Or so they say. Each year, over 80,000 domestic and foreign hikers prove their Slovene spirit by tackling this majestic giant. Although anyone with a fair amount of physical stamina can take on this very climbable peak, it’s strongly recommended to ascend Triglav in the company of a certified guide. Highly experienced alpinists can reach the top in a single push, but most hikers take two days to reach the summit. All, however, are rewarded with a jaw-dropping panoramic view that on a clear day can stretch right down to the Adriatic.

STA, 15 June 2020 - The US Embassy in Ljubljana donated to Slovenia on Monday a second package of personal protective equipment along with a Slovenian-made device for the disinfecting of hospital premises.

A total of 294 protective suits, 320 pars of boots and 640 pairs of gloves, all resistant to chemicals, as well as the disinfection device were symbolically handed over at the UKC Ljubljana hospital by US Ambassador to Slovenia Lynda C. Blanchard to Health Ministry State Secretary Tina Bregant and Defence Ministry State Secretary Damijan Jaklin.

What is the second US Embassy donation of PPE after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic will be used by health institutions in Slovenia as well as the Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief.

Blanchard, who stressed the need for cooperation, said that the package had been put together in cooperation with representatives from the health and defence ministries, who helped identify the needs. They were purchased from Slovenian companies to help the country's economy.

The two state secretaries also welcomed the decision to pick a device made by Slovenian company. It uses ultraviolet light in the UV-C range, which destroys bacteria, viruses and microorganisms. Bregant said it would help not only with coronavirus but also with other hospital infections, 18,000 of which are recorded in Slovenia each year.

In May the US Embassy donated 1,660 protective face shields to the Labour Ministry, intended for use in care homes. The joint value of the two donations is US$60,000.

STA, 15 June 2020 - The average net pay in Slovenia in April stood at EUR 1,266, which was 10.5% more than in March nominally and 11.5% more in real terms, the Statistics Office reported on Monday, noting that the increase was related to measures mitigating the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic.

The Statistics Office said the increase was mostly related to the payment of crisis bonuses in line with the relevant legislation and collective bargaining agreements.

The average gross pay was up by 10.2% nominally and by 11.2% in real terms compared to March to EUR 1,937.

In the public sector, the average gross pay for April was up by 10.9% on the monthly basis, while in the private sector, the increase was smaller, at 8.6%.

Sector-wise, the average gross pay was the highest in healthcare and social security (EUR 2,714), where the monthly increase was also the highest, at 27.9%.

Also increasing by more than a fifth was the average gross pay in the hospitality sector (24.2%).

STA, 13 June 2020 - Those living at the Slovenian seaside and those visiting the area will soon be able to make use of a free of charge shuttle ferry service linking Ankaran, Koper, Izola and Piran. The service will be available over weekends during the summer season, starting in late June, and could be used to transport bicycles.

Passengers will be able to use the shuttle transport on Saturdays and Sundays between 8am and 8pm, twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon.

The ferry will have a free of charge storage space for bicycles. The five bike spots will be occupied on a first-come-first-served basis, the Koper Regional Development Centre has said.

The free of charge shuttle service is a pilot initiative of the Crossmoby project that is part of the Interreg V-A Italy-Slovenia 2014-2020 programme.

Crossmoby promotes sustainable mobility by launching intermodal passenger transport options. The summer ferry service will take place over the span of 15 consecutive weekends, starting at the end of June and ending in late September.

Passengers will be able to board or get off the vessel in Ankaran at the Adria Ankaran camp pier, in Koper near the Ukmarjev Square car park, in Izola at the Marina hotel jetty and in Piran at the red lighthouse pier at the entrance of the harbour.

STA, 13 June 2020 - A ceremony on Saturday marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the only concentration camp on Slovenian soil, the labour camp below Ljubelj Pass. Speakers highlighted the need to preserve the memory of the atrocities and drew parallels with the present.

Jana Babšek, the director of the Tržič Museum, stressed that around 2,000 internees of what was a branch of the notorious Mauthausen camp were forced to work in harsh conditions for 23 months to build the mountain pass.

Commemoration of 75th anniversary of the liberation of the camp in Ljubelji, Mauthausen sub-camp, where 450 Poles were condemned to slave labor as part of the German policy of extermination

Thny HE @BorutPahor & Trzić Museum for building memory of victims of nazism&totalitarism pic.twitter.com/cCvacMXtIC

— PLinSlovenia (@PLinSlovenia) June 14, 2020

"As we browse through the memories of the former inmates, who endured inhuman conditions and evil, two wishes transpire: never to forget what happened, and to prevent something similar from happening in the future," she said.

She said it was necessary to educate youths in particular and explain what had led to such extreme events, noting that the current circumstances were creating challenges that are in many ways very similar to those in the past.

Jani Alič, a senior official of the WWII Veterans' Association, likewise evoked the current global events when he said that "Our veterans say that if we defeated the enemy during the war, we will defeat the contemporary hidden enemy as well."

This year a series of large-scale events was supposed to be held around Europe to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi concentration camps, but many had to be cancelled or scaled back due to to the coronavirus epidemic. The ceremony at Ljubelj was therefore smaller than usual.

Predsednik Republike Slovenije Borut Pahor se je danes udeležil slovesnosti v spomin na 75. obletnico osvoboditve koncentracijskega taborišča pod Ljubeljem. Pred slovesnostjo je predsednik republike k spomeniku J'accuse – Obtožujem položil venec. pic.twitter.com/w66gFY4G5Z

— Borut Pahor (@BorutPahor) June 13, 2020

Prior to the event, a wreath laying ceremony was held at the monument "J'accuse - Obtožujem" on the site of the camp. Delegations of several European countries laid wreaths, as did President Borut Pahor, who made special mention of the move by Germany and France to lay a wreath together.

"This is s nice symbolic event that invites everyone to remember the past in the spirit of reconciliation, and in particular to build Europe together," he said.

Ljubelj is the site of the remains of the only concentration camp in Slovenia, a branch of the notorious Mauthausen camp that served as a labour camp.

Around 1,800 internees, mostly political opponents of the Nazi regime and the majority of them French nationals, were forced to build a tunnel between Slovenia and Austria in very difficult conditions. At least 34 people died.

The camp was liberated on 8 May 1945.

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:

Three coronavirus infections confirmed yesterday, no deaths

LJUBLJANA - Three new coronavirus cases were confirmed in 767 tests carried out in Slovenia on Saturday, bringing the total to 1,495. There were no new Covid-19 deaths yesterday, leaving the death toll at 109, show the latest government data. Two cases were confirmed in Nova Gorica (W) and one in Jesenice (SW). Six people remain in hospital, none of them requiring intensive care. In total, there are a total of 22 active cases at the moment, according to Covid-19 Sledilnik, a data tracker.

Gas producer Messer back to solid profit last year

RUŠE - The Slovenian branch of the German industrial gas producer Messer last year generated EUR 24.6 million in revenue, which is 4% more than in 2018, while posting net profit of almost EUR 1.7 million, which compares to a minimum profit in the year before. The management of the company based in Ruše, east of Maribor, says in the annual report that 2019 was a very dynamic year, focusing on its first oxygen plant in Škofja Loka, which was launched in mid-2018, and investments in gas supply. With its 100 employees, the company generated as much as 98% of total revenue on the Slovenian market.

Dewesoft expects results on par with last year's due to pandemic

TRBOVLJE - Dewesoft, a measuring instruments maker, expects its business results to remain level with last year because its sales are expected to take a hit due to the coronavirus pandemic. While its production was undisturbed during the pandemic, the company's sales representatives were unable to travel. The company expects its revenue to stay at EUR 26 million and profit at EUR 8 million. In late may, the company saw a 34% increase in production compared to the beginning of the year, while purchases increased by 30%.

Slovenian food self-sufficiency low

LJUBLJANA - Official statistics show that Slovenia will have to do something about its food production. The rate of self-sufficiency for fruit was at a mere 30% last year, which is however also attributed to bad weather. Self-sufficiency in cereals and meat was meanwhile up. Total domestic production of fruit was below 90,000 tonnes, which is almost 50% less than in 2018, while consumption stood at 300,000 tonnes, while also being down somewhat. The self-sufficiency rate for other plant-based foods were also low, with preliminary data showing that they reached 44% for vegetables and 45% for potato.

If you're learning Slovenian then you can find all our dual texts here

There were 6,672 marriages and 2,476 divorces registered in Slovenia in 2019 according to the newest report by the Statistics Office (SURS). The number of marriages fell 8% compared to 2018, while divorces rose 5.5%. There were also 54 same-sex marriages registered in 2019.

Grooms were on average 36.9 years old at the time of marriage and almost three years older than brides were, with the latter on average 34.0 years old in 2019.

Most marriages were made between citizens of the Republic of Slovenia (80.8%).  In 583 of the newly wed couples (8.7% of all marriages), the groom was a citizen of the Republic of Slovenia and the bride a citizen of another country, most often Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 514 marriages (or 7.7% of the total), the bride was a citizen of the Republic of Slovenia and the groom from another country, again most commonly of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 185 marriages (2.8%), both the groom and the bride were foreign citizens.

In 2019, 2,476 couples divorced, or 129 (5.5%) more than in 2018. The average age of the newly divorced men was 46.8 years, and that of divorced women 43.9 years. The marriages of these couples lasted on average 14.3 years until the divorce, although 40 couples divorced in the first year of marriage.

In 1,261 divorces (50.9%) the couples had no dependent minor children, while in the remaining 1,215 (or 49.1%) divorces there were a total of 1,980 dependent minor children who were also part of the divorce procedures.  The majority of these children, 67.9%, were assigned to their mothers, 5.3% of children were assigned to their fathers and 24.3% to both parents.

People who divorced in 2019 were mostly citizens of the Republic of Slovenia (83.5%). In 162 divorces (or 6.5%), the husband was a citizen of the Republic of Slovenia and the wife a citizen of another country. In 211 divorces (or 8.5%), the wife was a citizen of the Republic of Slovenia and the divorced husband from another country. In 35 divorces (or 1.4%), both divorced spouses were foreign nationals.