31 May 2020, 10:50 AM

Why Not Spend Your Tourism Voucher With Piran Vacations?

With every adult in Slovenia about to get €200 to spend on tourist accommodation to help kickstart the post-corona summer, we thought we’d take a look at various properties around the country to consider. Since the coast came top in a survey of Slovenes asked to state where they’d like to stay – just after Croatia – we got in touch with Olga Mostepanenko, who runs Piran Vacations offering short-term rentals of various sizes and asked a few questions, which she kindly replied to.

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Tell us something about your background.

I’m Canadian, living and working in Switzerland for the last 10 years. I run a consulting company for small business owners. In 2012 I came to Slovenia on vacations and it was love at first sight: breathtaking nature, lovely people and so many cultural and natural treasures to explore!

When did you start renting properties? How has the market changed in this time?

I’ve been renting vacation properties for seven years: from the very early days of Airbnb in Slovenia, all the way into the enormous boom of 2018-2019, followed by complete shutdown of travel industry in March 2020 due to coronavirus – a true roller-coaster! That said, the beauty of the Slovenian seaside hasn’t changed. If anything, it only increased, as new beaches, hiking trails and dining experiences came to life in recent years.

What do you like about life in Piran?

I have many interests: art and science, travel, friends, nature hikes and historic architecture, the sea and stars... All of these are reasons to come to Piran, and I come as often as I can! As a host I’m happy to welcome you to Piran and help you plan a perfect seaside stay: get lost in the winding cobblestone streets of our medieval town, climb Piran’s ancient town walls, enjoy our many music festivals, discover the best beaches, sea lookouts, nature walks and bike trails – and, of course, just soak in the sun and enjoy delicious local fish, seafood, olive oil, truffles, fruits, ice-cream... I’m sure anyone who visits will keep coming back, this is the magic of Piran!

What effect has coronavirus had?

This is one of those once in a lifetime events that puts our resilience to a test. For sure, most of us are facing a big, negative impact on our businesses and employment. Fortunately, health-wise the situation on the coast is very much back to normal after just two months: the epidemic in Slovenia is over, Piran is full of happy holiday-makers, so let’s be thankful for that! As business people, we have to work smarter and better to compensate for the lost months and to brace ourselves for the recession ahead for Europe and the world. We want to serve each guest in the best possible way to bring back consumer confidence and smiles.

What do you think will happen this summer?

Thinking positively, the seaside is the best place to be in times of health concerns: sea breeze, sunshine, high-quality locally grown food – there are no better things to help build immunity! The Slovenian coast is a short drive from anywhere in the country and neighboring nations, and so many people have great access to the natural treasures of Piran, soaking in the history and culture as an added benefit. Private apartments are also well-positioned to serve as safe havens, creating your own “family bubble” where you don’t have to mix with strangers so much.

What is your opinion of the tourism voucher plan?

People were saying that seaside vacations outside Slovenia, especially Croatia, seem more affordable, and the government has done something about that. Now more locals can benefit from amazing holidays at home, as opposed to going somewhere cheaper destinations, where healthcare or hygiene standards may be not as high as in Slovenia. It’s a great opportunity for Piran, but also for other destinations in the country.

With that said, can you tell us about some of your properties on the coast?

We believe everyone – a solo traveler, couple, family or larger group – deserves a welcoming home in Piran. So we offer a variety of apartments and houses, all in the very heart of historic Piran and within 1-3-minutes’ walk from the beach. And it’s our pleasure to recommend activities to help you become a temporary local: shopping at the farmer’s market, enjoying the sea, people-watching at the grand Tartini Square, eating at the best local restaurants.

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Thinking about specific properties, for a couple or family with young kids we offer two-room apartments (here and here) in a comfortable house right off Tartini Square: watch festivals from your window or enjoy a sea view from the common roof terrace! Feel immediately at home:

- clean and disinfected private apartments

- Wi-Fi, air con, bed linens & towels, washing machine

- kitchens with large fridge/freezer, stove, oven, plates, pots & pans, cooking supplies

- fully renovated bathrooms, free toiletries

- two-minute walk to swimming, supermarket, restaurants, farmers' market

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For a family of 4-6 we are happy to offer a private apartment directly on the sea, with a gorgeous view – just walk out to the beach and seaside promenade! Enjoy a spacious living room, fully equipped kitchen, two bedrooms, beautiful bathroom and two balconies.

- the kitchen is custom-made from Slovenian oak and includes a large fridge/freezer, dishwasher, stove, oven, coffee machine, tea kettle and cupboards full of chinaware, cutlery, pots & pans, kitchen utensils, basic cooking supplies

- the fully renovated bathroom is equipped with a shower cabin, sink, toilet and a washing machine; enjoy complementary toiletries & laundry detergent

- the bedroom comes with a king-size bed and is facing a quiet street, while the kids’ bedroom has bunk beds and a sea view.

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For a larger group (up to 12 people) we offer your own house with terrace and sea view

It’s all yours: a historic renovated house with four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a spectacular private roof terrace - ideal for a family! 150 m². of living space over five floors of a historic Piran house, a registered monument.

- free Wi-Fi, air conditioner on each floor, bed linens & towels, washing machine

- clean and disinfected

- fridge/freezer, stove, oven, chinaware, pots & pans, cooking supplies

- private roof terrace is spacious and offers amazing views of Piran & the sea

- perfect Old Town location: 2-minute walk to swimming, supermarket, restaurants

Anything else you would like to say?

Piran is beautiful year-round. We can’t wait to welcome you here. Take a look at the properties, see what you like, and then get in touch with any questions or inquiries in Slovenian, English, German or French at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and check out Piran Vacations

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If you’d like to show some properties, then please get in touch at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

31 May 2020, 03:47 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Sunday, May 31 2020

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:

Ministry easing quarantine rules for third countries

LJUBLJANA - The Foreign Ministry has amended somewhat a decree on quarantine requirement for people coming to Slovenia from third countries by adding new exemptions, including Slovenian citizens and foreigners with a permanent or temporary residence in Slovenia, persons attending a funeral of a relative, those coming for a medical examination or procedure, those transiting Slovenia, people who transport cargo, diplomatic personal and members of the civil protection.

Pahor concerned that protests will step up with the stepping up of crisis

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor expressed concern in an interview with the weekly Nedelo that the growing economic and social crisis will increase people's distress and that the anti-government protests will intensify as a result. This is why he believes the government should hear the protesters' messages and restore cooperation with the opposition.

Six persons face minor offence proceedings after Friday's protests

LJUBLJANA - Six participants of Friday's bicycle protest in Ljubljana got involved in a minor altercation with the police in front of the Modern Centre Party (SMC) headquarters. Police told the STA they had violated public law and order by drawing slogans on the sidewalk with chalk, which will be treated as a minor offence.

No new coronavirus infections, deaths in Slovenia on Friday

LJUBLJANA - No new case of coronavirus infection was detected in Slovenia on Friday after 613 tests, and no patient died because of Covid-19, the government said on Twitter. Seven Covid-19 patients are still in hospitals, two in intensive care. Nobody was discharged from hospital yesterday.

Epidemic formally ends on Sunday, many restrictions remain

LJUBLJANA - After two and a half months, the Covid-19 epidemic will officially end on Sunday, as Slovenia becomes the first country in Europe to declare the epidemic over. Life is gradually returning to normal after schools and kindergartens were closed for two months, public transport suspended, non-essential stores closed and strict social distancing rules put in place.

Public health chief says epidemic not actually over

LJUBLJANA - The National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) is in for a very difficult summer because of preparations for a second wave of the Covid-19 epidemic, NIJZ's new director Milan Krek told the STA. "The idea that the epidemic is over is actually fake news," he said about the formal end of the epidemic, warning that the second wave might be worse.

Revenue from gaming jumps in 2019

LJUBLJANA - Total gross revenue from gaming in Slovenia, meaning money paid in minus winnings, rose by EUR 14 million to EUR 333.2 million in 2019, show Financial Administration data. While the rise is substantial compared to modest yearly increases seen in the years after the financial crisis, the total figure is still 5% below that from 2012.

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

30 May 2020, 13:00 PM

Last Week in Slovenia: 22 - 28 May, 2020

What follows is a weekly review of events involving Slovenia, as prepared by the STA.

If you’d like to keep up on the daily headlines then follow those here, or get all our stories in your feed on Facebook.

FRIDAY, 22 May
        PIRAN - The Slovenian and Croatian foreign ministers, Anže Logar and Gordan Grlić Radman, had their first meeting in person. They discussed the reopening of borders but offered no specific solutions as yet.
        LJUBLJANA - Austria remains rather inflexible about reopening its border with Slovenia, although Slovenia's epidemiological situation is the same or even better than Austria's, Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksander Geržina told the STA.
        LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor and his Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas Nauseda highlighted the role of a joint European response to the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic in the EU as they spoke over the phone.
        LJUBLJANA - The cycling protests against the government's actions and policies continued for the fifth Friday running, with several thousands protesters reported again in Ljubljana. PM Janša lashed out against the protesters by comparing them to the self-styled paramilitary units or nationalist home guards that recently made headlines, arguing both were extremely offensive to the police.
        LJUBLJANA/LONDON, UK - Speaking to the BBC on 21 May, Slovenian PM Janez Janša said that tourism was the mainstay of Slovenia's economy and announced that the season would kick off on 1 June, and assured that holidaying in Slovenia would be safe in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
        LJUBLJANA - The energy group Petrol saw its sales revenue drop by 15% year on year to EUR 916 million in the first quarter, due to lower prices and a drop in the sale of petroleum products. Still, net profit of the group was up 20% to EUR 21.8 million.
        LJUBLJANA - The central bank amended the rules for calculating creditworthiness, allowing banks to exclude the months with temporary lower income of their clients from creditworthiness calculations.
        LJUBLJANA - As many as 66% of those polled by market research agency Aragon are against coronavirus contact-tracing apps, labelling them a harsh encroachment on privacy and a violation of human rights. Some 31% meanwhile consider them a necessary measure to contain the spread of the virus.

SATURDAY, 23 May
        LJUBLJANA - Bojana Beović, the head of the Health Ministry advisory task force for coronavirus, told the STA that all efforts should be directed at preventing another nation-wide lockdown if a second wave of the coronavirus epidemic occurs.
        LJUBLJANA - Although the party is well below the parliament threshold in recent surveys, coalition Modern Centre Party (SMC) president Zdravko Počivalšek believes that the threshold is reachable even if elections were held now.
        LJUBLJANA - Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) president Aleksander Čeferin told the newspaper Dnevnik that football with fans in the stands could hopefully return by the autumn. He also denied speculations that he was interested in entering politics.

SUNDAY, 24 May
LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor told commercial broadcaster POP TV that self-styled uniformed village guards or militias should not be allowed in Slovenia. He thinks such activities should be banned by law.
AJDOVŠČINA - Bia Separations, a Slovenian biotechnology company, announced it would expand its production facilities in Ajdovščina and Italy's Gorizia due to increased demand. The company's investment plans to launch production in the US have been put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, but will go ahead as soon as possible.

MONDAY, 25 May
        LJUBLJANA - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs discussed the opening of the border with his Austrian counterpart Karl Nehammer, with the latter saying that Austria was worried that Italians and illegal migrants would enter Austria via Slovenia and Croatia. LJUBLJANA - In his first questions time in parliament since taking office in March, Prime Minister Janez Janša told MPs there was not enough money in the budget to compensate for all losses incurred by the coronavirus pandemic, but that the government could mitigate the consequences to the greatest extent possible. He said no major cuts into people's income was planned.
        LJUBLJANA/TRIESTE, Italy - The Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) denied its member being involved in an incident near the border with Italy in early May after the Trieste-based newspaper Primorski Dnevnik reported that a dual Slovenian-Italian citizen had been stopped at gunpoint by a man in a military uniform in the Hrpelje-Kozina community.
        LJUBLJANA - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs told the weekly Reporter that he expects the authorities to take action against the organisers of the mass anti-government protests on bicycles.
        LJUBLJANA - Labour Minister Janez Cigler Kralj and Health Minister Tomaž Gantar defended action to contain the spread of coronavirus at care homes in parliament as the opposition sought answers about the high proportion of Covid-19 fatalities at care homes and about media reports that care home residents had allegedly been listed as to who should get hospital treatment and who not if infected. Gantar denied the existence of such lists.
        LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša announced potential changes to tax legislation and media funding as he gave a weekly interview with the private broadcaster Nova24TV. He said, however, that fast tax cuts could not be made due to the coronacrisis and said the Culture Ministry was already working on changes to public broadcaster funding.
        LJUBLJANA - The Covid-19 lockdown meant Slovenia recorded no tourist arrivals in April, while the number of recorded overnight stays was 11,000. This is 99% less that in April 2019 and was mostly accounted for by ongoing student exchange programmes.
        LJUBLJANA - A sharp increase in Slovenia's registered unemployment total caused by the coronavirus crisis was brought to a halt last week with the weekly figure rising only by 59 to 90,272 compared to the previous week, according to interim data from the Employment Service.
        LJUBLJANA - After plummeting by an unprecedented 35.8 percentage points in April, business sentiment in Slovenia improved somewhat in May, with the relevant index standing at -33.1 percentage points, or 6.5 points higher than in April and 40.8 percentage points lower year-on-year.
        LJUBLJANA - Electricity consumption in Slovenia declined by 15% year-on-year in April, the first full month of coronavirus lockdown, and by 19% compared to March, an indication of a sharp decline in economic activity, Statistics Office data show.

TUESDAY, 26 May
        LJUBLJANA - The government added new exemptions to the quarantine requirement for EU and Schengen zone citizens that in effect allow citizens from across the EU to enter the country as tourists, as long as they have a confirmation of booking. The same applies to owners of property in Slovenia.
        LJUBLJANA - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs talked over the phone with his Maltese counterpart Byron Camilleri. While the latter urged Slovenia to help with the relocation of migrants rescued at sea, Hojs said Slovenia's capacities were full and it could not do that at present.
        BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia pledged a humanitarian contribution of EUR 10,000 as part of an international donor conference in solidarity with Venezuelan refugees and migrants in countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
        LJUBLJANA - In the first four months of 2020, the Slovenian police recorded 2,394 illegal crossings of the border, which is almost 25% less than in the same period last year. The decline is at least partially a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic and the related stricter measures on the border.
        LJUBLJANA - The government received a letter from the Green 10, a coalition of ten of the largest environmental NGOs in Europe, which expresses concern over pending legal provisions limiting the involvement of NGOs in environmental permit procedures.
        LJUBLJANA - The Chamber of Small Business (OZS) called on the government to start working on a fourth stimulus package to help the industries that have not been covered in the third stimulus package.
        LJUBLJANA - Culture workers covered the front of the building housing the Ministry of Culture with hundreds of pieces of paper with appeals for action to help the sector hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic as part of a protest targeting what the organisers described as the ministry's silence and inaction.
        LJUBLJANA - Slovenia placed seventh according in the 2020 KidsRights Index, released by the KidsRights Foundation, an international children's aid and advocacy NGO. The country received 0.897 points overall, chalking up the highest score in protection and the lowest in the child rights environment category.

WEDNESDAY, 27 May
        BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia will be eligible to receive EUR 5.071 billion from the EU's coronavirus recovery plan, according to European Commission documents. It will be able to receive EUR 2.579 billion in grants and EUR 2.492 billion in loans.
        LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed a set of changes limiting the involvement of environmental NGOs in administrative and court proceedings. Under the changes, public interest status will be recognised only for groups with at least 50 members, at least EUR 10,000 of assets, at least two fully employed persons who have tertiary education level degrees and two years of experience in environmental protection.
        LJUBLJANA - The Foreign Ministry would not comment on a new remembrance day declared by the Trieste city council. The Slovenian Cultural and Economic Association (SKGZ), one of the central organisations of the Slovenian ethnic minority in Italy, said the holiday was divisive and "reviving old conflicts".
        LJUBLJANA - Defence Minister Matej Tonin spoke with his German counterpart Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer via videolink to express satisfaction with the countries' cooperation in defence and look for opportunities to strengthen it further.
        LJUBLJANA - Parliament confirmed Klemen Podobnik as the candidate for one of two Slovenian judges at the EU's General Court in Luxembourg. The remaining two nominees, Jure Vidmar and Nina Savin Bossiere, failed to secure the absolute majority required.
        LJUBLJANA - Marko Bošnjak, one of the five vice-governors of Slovenia's central bank, tendered his resignation in the aftermath of accusations that he evaded taxes on rental income.
        LJUBLJANA - Heads of the parliamentary deputy groups and parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič discussed reforming the electoral law, with a majority agreeing that the relevant ministry should be tasked with drafting proposals for redefining the electoral districts. A day later Zorčič and President Borut Pahor urged all stakeholders to find a solution by December.
        LJUBLJANA - Retail sales plunged by 22.6% year-on-year in April to the lowest level since 2006, show fresh Statistics Office data. At the monthly level the decline was 8.8%, following a 12% contraction in March.

THURSDAY, 28 May
        LJUBLJANA - Dejan Židan resigned as the leader of the opposition Social Democrats. Vice-president Tanja Fajon, an MEP, will run the party for the time being at his request. Židan said he saw the change of leadership as an opportunity for the party to gain in the polls.
        DOLGA VAS - Slovenia and Hungary lifted restrictions on the crossing of state border for the citizens of both countries based on a favourable epidemiological situation in both countries. The announcement came after talks between the Slovenian and Hungarian foreign ministers, Anže Logar and Peter Szijjarto.
        LJUBLJANA - The government decided that primary schools would open in full next week. It also allowed the gathering of up to 200 people. Hotels, gyms and spas will also open on Monday. The only establishments that will remain closed are night clubs.
        LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Labour Committee okayed the EUR 1 billion third stimulus package, which provides a short-time work scheme and support to the tourism sector, primarily in the form of tourist vouchers for all residents.
        LJUBLJANA - The SID Banka export and development bank has secured EUR 200 million in liquidity loans and another EUR 150 million in insurance and re-insurance deals to sole traders, SMEs and big companies as well as cooperatives during the Covid-19 epidemic.
        LJUBLJANA - The retail group Mercator generated EUR 1.1 million in net profit in the first quarter of 2020 after a net loss of EUR 3.7 million in the same period last year. Revenue increased by 10.8% to top EUR 530.48 million.
        BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Commission increased more than five-fold the Just Transition Mechanism funds for Slovenia, from EUR 92 million to EUR 538 million.
        LJUBLJANA - Ernest Petrič, a seasoned diplomat and former Constitutional Court judge who is currently an adviser to President Borut Pahor, was named by the government as Slovenia's member of the Venice Commission, an advisory body of the Council of Europe, for a four-year term.

All our posts in this series are here

30 May 2020, 09:47 AM

What Mladina & Demokracija Are Saying This Week: SDS in 2022 vs Čeferin & Covid-19 in Lombardy

The covers and editorials from leading weeklies of the Left and Right for the work-week ending Friday, 29 May 2020. All our stories about coronavirus and Slovenia are here

Mladina: SDS to be left without partners in 2022

STA, 29 May 2020 - The left-wing weekly Mladina says in Friday's editorial that the ruling Democrats (SDS) have turned a lot of people against themselves and set in motion a rising opposition movement including people who did not define themselves politically prior to the current situation.

"Unless [Janez] Janša introduces one of the numerous possible forms of undemocratic or semi-democratic regimes, the SDS will leave the government offices together with its perennial leader after the regular election in 2022 at the latest."

The paper argues that the more Janša and his allies keep "destroying Slovenia's immune system", including state institutions and civil society, the stronger response they will face in the next election.

A number of individuals and groups are ready to enter politics and oppose the current government, says editor-in-chief Grega Repovž, adding that UEFA boss Aleksander Čeferin probably won't do that. Nevertheless, Čeferin's recent statements and actions have shown that a clear opposition to Janša has been formed.

The Friday anti-government protests on bicycles have moreover revealed that people are increasingly determined to speak out and point to the prime minister's attacks, says Mladina.

Janša is aware that after the election he will not be able to form another coalition. Apart from New Slovenia (NSi), his party does not have any other serious partners left. "The Modern Centre Party (SMC) will not make it to parliament anymore, whereas the Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) could achieve that feat only by turning away from Janša."

SMC MPs entered the SDS-led coalition with relatively simple intentions; they just wanted to somehow politically survive and secure jobs for later, Repovž says.

"From a perspective of someone who considers an MP status a job and has never deemed politics a calling that is an utterly normal and human approach."

Both parties, SMC and DeSUS knew then that this coalition would raise dust and that ideological issues would be reopened, says the editorial, headlined Putting Yourself in SMC and DeSUS Shoes.

However, they have failed to predict that such mass protests will be held every Friday and that European ambassadors and established international organisations promoting democratic standards will be expressing concern over the situation in Slovenia.

The coalition knows that protesters will soon come to the rallies without bicycles. Janša is thus trying to "behead and silence [public broadcaster] RTV Slovenija before that happens, whereas DeSUS and SMC are looking for "a political way out of this situation".

The two parties are under pressure with certain members up in arms. "Moreover, many a DeSUS and SMC member has spent past few Fridays on a bicycle."

Demokracija: UEFA boss to blame for Lombardy tragedy

STA, 28 May 2020 - The right-wing weekly Demokracija takes aim at the UEFA boss Aleksander Čeferin in the latest editorial, suggesting the Slovenian lawyer may soon be forced out of the job because of his role in the Atalanta-Valencia Champions League fixture in the fatal Covid-19 outbreak in Lombardy.

The editor-in-chief, Jože Biščak, writes that experts all but agree that the 19 February match in Milan's San Siro stadium was a "biological bomb that largely contributed to the epidemic disaster".

"Not just Atalanta fans, Valencia supporters too entered a Petri dish to go down in history as part of an unplanned experiment how mass sports events can become an epicentre of a global pandemic."

Biščak says that people of Lombardy were the first to point their accusing finger at UEFA and its boss Aleksander Čeferin, followed by others and that today UEFA is spoken of in social media "as a mafia responsible for the deaths of thousands".

He says the European football decision-makers could have cancelled the match or have it played to an empty stadium if they listened to epidemiologists rather than the WHO.

He says that instead of an apology or admission that UEFA takes part of the blame, Čeferin later chose to threaten national football associations that their clubs would not compete in European cup competitions if they ended football season early due to the pandemic.

While he says the support voiced for Čeferin in Slovenia is part of the deep state's strategy to clear him of all responsibility, Biščak adds: "Western Europe will never forgive Čeferin for his viral indifference and almost dictatorial attitude to some national associations.

"UEFA is not an organisation independent of political flows [...] Those in the know about (football and political) behind-the-scenes know well which political group contributed its decisive votes in 2016 and why he was the only candidate in 2019. And that no interview with the Guardian or such rags will help him [...]

"Humanity will defeat the virus and so will football survive the pandemic, no worries. Not because of UEFA, but despite it. Čeferin, who opened the Petri dish, may soon end up in it himself. Along with the company that befits him," concludes the piece headlined Petri Dish for Aleksander Č.

All our posts in this series are here

30 May 2020, 09:04 AM

Slovenia Sees 6th Week of Bicycle Protests

STA, 29 May 2020 - Several thousand people flooded the streets of the capital Ljubljana for what is the sixth Friday in a row that protesters, most of them on bicycles, expressed opposition to government policies. Smaller crowds also gathered in other cities around the country.

The nexus of the protest, held Fridays at 7pm, is the square in front of Parliament House and the adjacent streets, where the government, the president of the republic and several ministries are seated.

Many protesters were wearing banners targeting specific government policies, including its perceived crackdown on environmental NGOs in favour of large infrastructure investments, neglect of the arts, and irregularities in the purchase of personal protective equipment.

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For culture, for nature, for free media

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In front of the parliament, during a plenary at which the third economic stimulus package and several other key laws were debated, protesters staged a collective turning of backs in a message of no confidence.

Several large banners were unfolded in front of the Presidential Palace mostly focusing on environmental issues.

The protests are spearheaded by a loosely connected group of activists and organisations, including anarchists and environmentalists.

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Slovenia is not Hungary

One of the figureheads of the protests, theatre director Jaša Jenull, was involved in a minor altercation with the police in front of the Modern Centre Party (SMC) headquarters.

Police said he was violating public law and order by drawing a slogan on the sidewalk with chalk.

In Maribor, Večer newspaper reports several hundred people gathered chanting similar slogans. Smaller protests with a few dozen participants have been reported in cities including Lendava, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec and Celje.

Slovenian protesters also received a message of support from the Slovenian community in the German capital Berlin, who cycled through the streets chanting slogans targeting the Slovenian government, according to social media posts.

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30 May 2020, 07:09 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Saturday, 30 May 2020

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:

Third stimulus package passed

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed the third economic stimulus package to help revive the economy, valued at roughly a billion euro. The centrepiece is a subsidised short-time work scheme for all employers until the end of the year. Companies unable to provide at least 90% of the workload for at least 10% of their workers will be eligible. Another measure is a one-month extension of the existing furlough scheme until the end of June for all employers. All Slovenian permanent residents will also get vouchers to spend on tourist accommodation in Slovenia, EUR 200 for adults and and EUR 50 for minors. The bill also brings financial incentives in the form of grants and loans for small companies, and relaxes conditions to obtain a state incentive for an investment.

Parliament passes legislation to accelerate major investments

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed an emergency law aimed at accelerating major investments to help the economy, which has been strongly affected by the coronavirus epidemic. The government will draw up a list of 50-odd investments which will be handled as a matter of priority by the relevant state bodies granting construction permits and other approvals. Procedures will be coordinated by a newly-founded taskforce. The law also implements EU guidelines aimed at shielding bidders from EU countries from unfair competition from third countries.

MPs back guarantees for SURE scheme

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly endorsed a bill under which Slovenia will support the EU SURE instrument to mitigate unemployment risks across the EU with up to EUR 88.1 million in loan guarantees. Designed to mitigate the coronavirus pandemic's massive negative impact on the European jobs market, the SURE scheme will make up to EUR 100 billion in loans available, supported by EUR 25 billion in guarantees from EU members. The instrument, in which Finance Minister Andrej Šircelj says Slovenia expects to secure around EUR 900 million in loans.

Slovenia's GDP contracted by 2.3% in Q1 y/y

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's GDP decreased by a slower-than-expected 2.3% in the first three months of 2020 year-on-year due to a slowdown in domestic consumption and external demand. Seasonally- and working days-adjusted GDP contracted by 4.5% compared to the last quarter of 2019 and by 3.4% year-on-year. The first quarter, which was already affected by the coronavirus pandemic, in particular after the outbreak in Europe in March, saw domestic expenditure decline by 3.1%. Commenting on the data, Slovenia's central bank said it was already clear some activities would take a long time to recover, while IMAD, the government's macroeconomic forecaster, expects the economy to contract even more sharply in the second quarter.

President proposes Teršek, Zobec for one vacancy at top court

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor proposed that the National Assembly take a vote on Barbara Zobec and Andraž Teršek for one vacancy on the Constitutional Court, as the nine-year term of Dunja Jadek Pensa runs out on 14 July. Zobec, who has the endorsement of the senior coalition Democrats (SDS), has been a judge at the Supreme Court's criminal department since 2002. She also teaches at the Catholic Institute's Faculty of Law and Business Studies, which cites the mass executions during and after WWII as her major research interest. Teršek is a constitutional jurist and a law philosopher known for his outspoken views. He teaches at the University of Primorska and at the European Faculty of Law.

Coalition keen on cross-partisan pact, opposition reserved

LJUBLJANA - A cross-partisan partnership agreement on key legislation proposed by Prime Minister Janez Janša is seen in the coalition as a means of bridging divides. The centre-left opposition parties rejected the offer although the Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) said they may consider joining assuming the coalition backs their proposals; only the populist National Party (SMS) said it would sign up to "help the country". The most scathing criticism came from Marjan Šarec, the former prime minister, who said that he was first accused by Janša of being culpable for fatalities due to inaction in the early stages of the coronavirus epidemic, but now Janša would like to cooperate.

Sixth straight week of bicycle protests

LJUBLJANA - Several thousand people flooded the streets of the capital Ljubljana for what is the sixth Friday in a row that protesters, most of them on bicycles, expressed opposition to government policies. Smaller crowds also gathered in other cities around the country. The nexus of the protest is the square in front of Parliament House and the adjacent streets, where the government, the president of the republic and several ministries are seated. Many protesters were wearing banners targeting specific government policies, including its perceived crackdown on environmental NGOs, neglect of the arts, and irregularities in the purchase of personal protective equipment.

Passenger air travel resumes at Ljubljana airport

LJUBLJANA - After two months and a half of severe air traffic restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, regular passenger transport services resumed at Ljubljana airport today. The first flight was operated by Air Serbia. The airport expects most airlines to return by early July. The relaunch of regular services will take place in three parts: by 15 June, the airport expects to see the return of Lufthansa, Montenegro Airlines and a Polish carrier; by the end of June, Swiss Air, Air Brussels, Transavio and British Airways; and after 1 July, other airlines.

Masks remain mandatory in certain circumstances

LJUBLJANA - There has been some confusion about whether face masks are still mandatory in Slovenia, but the government cleared up the confusion by adopting a decree which determines face masks must be worn in indoor public spaces in certain circumstances beyond the formal end of the epidemic on 31 May. Face masks are thus mandatory in closed public spaces where the distance between persons is less than 1.5 metres, on public transportation, for persons with respiratory diseases, for health staff depending on the degree of risk, for all staff of care homes, and for visitors entering health institutions and care homes.

No new coronavirus infections, no new fatalities on Thursday

LJUBLJANA - No new coronavirus infections were confirmed in Slovenia on Thursday after 702 more tests were conducted, while there were also no new deaths for the third consecutive day, show the latest official data. This means the number of confirmed infections remains at 1,473 and the national death toll at 108. Thursday's clean bill as regards the number of new cases comes after two days when the daily case count exceeded one following a two-week period of zero or one infection per day.

Employment figures for Q1 not yet showing impact of epidemic

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian labour market was in a good shape in the first quarter of the year despite the lockdown measures related to the coronavirus epidemic kicking in in the second half of March. The survey unemployment rate was at 4.6%, or only 0.3 of a percentage point lower than in the same period last year. The survey-based unemployment figure in the first quarter was at 47,000, 5.7% down from the same period last year. The structure was almost balanced gender-wise.

Slovenia interested in strengthening cooperation with Norway

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar underlined good relations between Slovenia and Norway in a phone conversation with his Norwegian counterpart Ine Eriksen Soreide as well as Slovenia's interest in further strengthening economic cooperation with Norway. The ministers lauded good relations between the two countries, which are also NATO partners and share a number of views on European and multilateral issues, according to the Foreign Ministry.

State secretary discussing border reopening and migration in Croatia

ZAGREB, Croatia - Interior Ministry State Secretary Franc Kangler met his Croatian counterpart Terezija Gras. The pair discussed cooperation in the fight against illegal migration, the situation on the Slovenian-Croatian border in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, and Croatia's preparations for entering the Schengen area. Kangler informed Gras of "certain measures" aiming to curb illegal migration that Slovenia will implement at the border region at the beginning of June.

Slovenian, Croatian MEPs appeal to von der Leyen for fair border reopening

LJUBLJANA - Austria's decision to omit Slovenia and Croatia from the list of countries whose citizens will be able to enter Austria without restrictions in mid-June is not in line with the EU's recovery plan or the bloc's basic standards, three MEPs from Slovenia and Croatia said in a letter addressed to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. MEPs from the liberal political group Renew, Slovenia's Irena Joveva and Klemen Grošelj (Renew/LMŠ), and Croatia's Valter Flego (Renew/IDS), wrote on Friday that they hoped the European Commission would react to Austria's announcement.

Minority reps discuss return of National Hall with Trieste mayor

TRIESTE, Italy - The presidents of both main organisations of Slovenians in Italy and Slovenia's consul general in Trieste, Vojko Volk, held a meeting with Trieste Mayor Roberto Dipiazza to discuss the upcoming centenary of the arson of the Trieste National Hall by the Fascists, and the return of the building to the Slovenian community. They expressed support for efforts to return the building and joy that presidents Borut Pahor and Sergio Mattarella will visit Trieste that day, Consulate General said.

Slovenians free to enter Greece without restrictions after 15 June

ATHENS, Greece - Greece released a list of 29 countries, among them Slovenia, whose citizens and residents will be able to enter the country after 15 June without having to go into quarantine. The Greek Embassy in Slovenia said the incoming persons would be randomly swabbed and tested for Covid-19. Apart from Slovenia, the list also includes Germany, Austria, Croatia, China and Japan.

Annual deflation remains at 1.2% in May

LJUBLJANA - Cheaper oil kept Slovenia's consumer prices down in May with the annual deflation rate running at 1.2%, flat with the month before, despite a 9% monthly hike in consumer prices, data from the Statistics Office show. Year-on-year goods prices dropped by 2.9%, while prices of services rose by 2%. Lower prices of petroleum products (liquid fuel prices fell by 32.4% and the prices of fuel and lubricants by 23.9%) had the biggest impact on annual deflation, at 1.4 percentage points. At the monthly level, consumer prices increased mostly due to higher prices of food.

Port operator Luka Koper's net profit almost halved in Q1

KOPER - Port operator Luka Koper posted a net profit of EUR 7 million for the first quarter of 2020, down 48% year-on-year, as sales declined by 9% to EUR 55 million. Earnings before income tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were down 37% to EUR 15 million and pre-tax profit (EBIT) dropped by 50% to EUR 9 million. All goods categories bar liquid cargoes were down volume-wise, for an overall tonnage decline in throughput of 12%.

Pandemic slashes Unior profit

ZREČE - The state-owned tool maker and automotive supplier Unior saw its net profit slashed by 60% to EUR 2.7 million in the first quarter compared to the same period a year ago as net revenue fell 14.5% to EUR 56.2 million, a development attributed to the coronavirus pandemic and a temporary suspension of production. The January-March bottom line is EUR 1.8 million short of the target figure, according to the unaudited report. EBITDA fell by 27% year-on-year to EUR 8.3 million and EBIT slumped by 46% to EUR 4 million.

Aluminium producer Talum records profit in 2019, 2020 to be turbulent

KIDRIČEVO - Aluminium producer Talum generated EUR 327 million in net revenue and almost EUR 680,000 in net profit in 2019. General manager Marko Drobnič told the STA that more than EUR 290 million came from aluminium product sales with 87% of the sales made in foreign markets. More than 136,000 tonnes of Talum aluminium products were sold last year. The 2019 business results are slightly below expectations mostly because of a drop in sales prices. The Kidričevo-based company employed some 1,530 people at the end of last year. It is in the majority ownership of ELES, the state-owned power grid operator.

Cetis ends 2019 with higher revenue, profit

CELJE - Cetis, a printing group specialised in secure documents, saw its revenue rise by 11.3% to EUR 66.4 million in 2019, while its net profit more than doubled to EUR 4.5 million over 2018, the Celje-based company said. The parent company generated nearly EUR 37 million in revenue in 2019, up 10.5%, of which more than half on foreign markets. Net profit nearly doubled to EUR 3.6 million.

Real estate transactions hit record in 2019

LJUBLJANA - The total value of real estate transactions in Slovenia reached a record level last year, estimated at EUR 2.7 billion, as prices continued to grow, albeit at a lower pace than in 2018, shows a report from the Surveying and Mapping Authority. The report says that the record amount should be attributed to several sell-and-lease-back contracts for shopping centres, and that the figure was unlikely to be exceeded this year.

Historian Peter Štih elected new SAZU president

LJUBLJANA - Peter Štih, a 59-year-old history professor, was elected the new president of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SAZU) to succeed Tadej Bajd, who has headed the academy since 2014. Štih, a doctor of historical sciences, professor of medieval history and historical auxiliary sciences at the Ljubljana Faculty of Arts, has been a full SAZU member since June 2015, serving as its vice-president since 8 May 2017. Presidency members are elected for three-year terms and may be re-elected once.

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29 May 2020, 18:07 PM

Value of Real Estate Deals in Slovenia Hit Record in 2019

STA, 29 May 2020 - The total value of real estate transactions in Slovenia reached a record level last year, estimated at EUR 2.7 billion, as prices continued to grow, albeit at a slower pace than in 2018, shows a report from the Surveying and Mapping Authority (GURS).

GURS, which notes that the record amount should be attributed to several sell-and-lease-back contracts for shopping centres, says in the report that real estate prices exceeded the previous peak in 2008.

According to preliminary data, around 35,500 transactions were recorded last year with their total value approaching EUR 2.7 billion. It is expected that the final number will exceed 36,000 and their total value to stand at EUR 2.7 billion.

This will be the highest annual amount since real estate transactions started to be systematically recorded in 2007.

"Compared to 2015, the number of transactions with real estate was up by more than 20%, while their total value increased by almost 60%," shows the 2019 report.

The record value is attributed to a steep rise in the value of transactions with commercial real estate, which exceeded half a billion euro. Its share in the total value, which usually stands around 10%, was up to more than 20%.

The value of transactions involving residential real estate was up by 10% compared to 2018 to EUR 1.59 billion, of which transactions with apartments amounted to EUR 951 million. The number of transactions was up by 1% to around 10,750.

The number of transactions with second-hand apartments was up by 1.5% to 10,160, while the number of new apartments sold was down by a third to 600. This is well below the annual average for the 2015-2017 period of more than 1,000.

"The number of new apartments which entered the market in 2019 was not even close to sufficient, and a majority of new apartments which will satisfy the demand is expected to built by the end of 2021," the report adds.

Growth of the prices of second-hand apartments slowed down last year, with the average price per square metre standing at EUR 1,850, which is nevertheless 5% more than in 2018, and 28% more than in 2015, when the trend reversed.

In Ljubljana, where the prices of apartments were the highest for the last three years, exceeding the previous peak in 2018, the average price of a square metre in a second-hand apartment was EUR 2,800, up 1% year-on-year.

The average price of a house was EUR 128,000, or 3% less than in 2018 and 19% more than in 2015. Considering the features of houses sold, GURS has estimated that their prices at the national level have increased by 15-20% since 2015.

GURS notes that this year, the real estate market will be significantly affected by the coronavirus epidemic, during which "transaction stopped and it is clear that the 2019 trends are history."

29 May 2020, 16:57 PM

Passenger Air Travel Restarts at Ljubljana Airport with First Flight from Belgrade

STA, 29 May 2020 - After two months and a half of severe air traffic restrictions due to the Covid-19 epidemic, regular passenger transport services resumed at Ljubljana airport on Friday. The first flight was operated by Air Serbia with the airport expecting most airlines to return by early July.

The return will depend on efforts to lift border restrictions and promote the destinations, said airport operator Fraport Slovenija, adding that the airport had been forced to rationalise expenditure, including in investment projects, due to a major loss of revenue.

Following today's landing of an Air Serbia aircraft coming from Belgrade, Fraport Slovenija director Zmago Skobir said that other flights were to follow in the coming weeks.

The relaunch of regular services will take place in three parts: by 15 June, the airport expects to see the return of Lufthansa, Montenegro Airlines and a Polish carrier; by the end of June, Swiss Air, Air Brussels, Transavio and British Airways; and after 1 July, the return of other airlines.

Meanwhile, Iberia and Finnair have decided not to fly to Slovenia in this year's summer season.

Charter flights are also scheduled with key Slovenian tour operators announcing the first flights for the second half of July and in August.

Since Slovenia's border with Croatia has been reopened, flight services between Ljubljana and Dubrovnik are in the pipeline. Providing a connection with Greece is slated to be next.

Air Serbia Director General Duncan Naysmith said today that flights to Ljubljana meant resuming regional air traffic. Between 29 May and 21 June, the carrier plans to carry out eleven return flights. Air Serbia hopes that the demand will be big enough to warrant an increase in the number of weekly flights to Ljubljana.

Services will still be restricted this year given that carriers have been reducing their fleets. Skobir has pointed out that securing passengers' trust in the safety of air travel will be one of the key factors in resuming services.

Since international air passenger transport was banned on 17 March, Fraport Slovenija has recorded only 15% of normal revenue.

The operator has urged the relevant ministries to provide aid, however, according to Skobir, air transport has not seen any special stimulus measures designed to help mitigate the economic fallout so far.

What exactly cost-cutting efforts mean for employees Skobir could not yet tell. "The number of redundancies will depend on the forecasts of air carriers," he said, adding that the situation was uncertain.

The airport's major investment in expanding the passenger terminal is currently still planned to go ahead, however the project could be postponed due to the extreme circumstances.

All the anti-Covid-19 restrictions and guidelines, proposed by the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), have been introduced at the airport to ensure the safety of passengers and staff.

Only passengers and staff can enter the terminal, mask-wearing is mandatory as well as using hand-sanitisers and maintaining physical distance.

Protective glass panels have also been set up to reduce contact between staff and passengers.

Temperature screenings have not been introduced so far since the institute has not deemed this measure obligatory or necessary.

Skobir added that in case the EU authorities proclaimed the measure mandatory, the airport would implement it.

The institute has also coordinated with the airport response protocols regarding potential cases indicating suspicion of infection with coronavirus.

In terms of passenger arrivals, all the measures in place for crossing Slovenia's land border apply.

The passengers arriving from Serbia, a non-EU country, today will thus have to be quarantined, except for Slovenian citizens, those owning a property in Slovenia or those with diplomatic passports, said Skobir.

Some 24 passengers, flying from Belgrade, landed at Ljubljana airport today, whereas about 40 flew back to Serbia on a return flight.

Among the first group was also a Slovenian who lives in Belgrade and tried to return to Slovenia multiple times during the epidemic but failed to do so until now due to lockdown measures.

The passenger reported that the flight had been without complications and that all the passengers had worn face masks with some even going as far as wearing gloves.

Government spokesman on coronavirus Jelko Kacin told the press at today's briefing that a total of twelve passengers arriving from Belgrade had to go into quarantine, whereas some preferred to return to their starting points after finding out about the measure.

Kacin pointed out that all the persons arriving from a third country had to undergo a mandatory quarantine period upon entering Slovenia regardless of their citizenship and residence.

29 May 2020, 13:44 PM

Slovenian Firm Develops Device for Disinfecting Enclosed Spaces in Minutes with UV-C Radiation

STA, 28 May 2020 - The Hoče-based company Sloluks has developed an innovative device for disinfecting spaces such as schools, kindergartens, companies, bars and restaurants, hotels and homes. The device uses the same ultraviolet technology that is used for disinfecting hospitals and labs, but it is described as much more user friendly.

Ultraviolet light, specifically UV-C radiation, has been used to remove bacteria, moulds and viruses in hospitals and labs for years, and in recent months it has been used to clean buses in Hong Kong, and passenger aircraft.

Using this technology, Sloluks has developed a portable, easy-to-use, safe and cost-efficient device that is suitable for broad use.

The device, which can clean a school classroom of 99.9% of impurities in a matter of minutes, according to Sloluks CEO Martin Vovk, does not produce the potentially hazardous ozone like some similar devices that are sold online.

It also automatically shuts down if it detects living organisms in the room.

The Slovenian-developed and -produced device starts at under EUR 10,000.

The device will be tested at the Selnica ob Dravi primary school in eastern Slovenia. Mayor Vlasta Krmelj said the municipality was aware of the importance of testing for innovation and improving of products that bring long-term benefits to communities.

The school hopes the device will enable it to use less chemicals for cleaning, thus creating a healthier environment for children while also cutting costs.

You can learn more about the company here

29 May 2020, 11:42 AM

President, Speaker Call for Reform of Electoral Law by End of Year

STA, 28 May 2020 - President Borut Pahor and parliamentary Speaker Igor Zorčič met on Thursday to discuss the required reform of the electoral law, urging all stakeholders to find a solution to implement the relevant decision of the Constitutional Court by December. Pahor said he would like to address the National Assembly about the issue in June.

The meeting comes after the heads of parliamentary deputy groups and Zorčič agreed yesterday to leave it to the relevant ministry to draft proposals for redistricting.

The reform has hit a standstill after a bill which sought to abolish electoral districts and introduce a preference vote at the level of the existing eight electoral units narrowly fell short of the needed two-thirds majority in parliament in March.

Pahor, who has so far coordinated relevant meetings and consulted representatives of the parliamentary parties, experts and other stakeholders, said today that, after the latest failed attempt, politicians should find a solution by December.

Changes are required in line with the Constitutional Court's ruling from December 2018 that gave parliament two years to re-establish the one-person-one-vote rule, distorted by huge differences in the sizes of electoral districts.

Pahor, Zorčič and heads of the parliamentary deputy groups agree that the Public Administration Ministry come up with a redistricting proposal, which would then be discussed in the National Assembly.

This requires a smaller majority, at least 46 votes in the 90-member legislature, but the president warned that this would nevertheless be "very sensitive work politically".

Pahor and Zorčič agree that a relevant bill should be tabled by deputies. "It must not happen that the vote on the bill becomes a vote on the government," the president said in a press statement after the meeting.

Pahor also informed the speaker that he would like to address the National Assembly at the June session about the electoral law reform as "currently the most important issue regarding democracy".

The two agreed that a solution which would implement the Constitutional Court's decision should be found by December, otherwise Slovenia could be in a situation where the legitimacy and lawfulness of elections and democracy would be threatened.

Pahor said he had also discussed the issue with Prime Minister Janez Janša, who agreed that a solution needs to be found by December. The president hopes that Janša's Democrats (SDS) will support the redistricting, as the party is against their abolition.

Zorčič assessed that implementing the decision of Slovenia's top court was a first-rate political issue which transcended the division to the coalition and opposition, so he believes that all deputy groups will start solving this issue.

Janša told the public broadcaster TV Slovenija in the evening that the Constitutional Court had not requested that electoral districts be abolished, but that their borders be changed so that they represented a similar number of voters.

The prime minister pointed to the vast differences in size of electoral districts, which puts candidates in unequal position. He believes that the problem is easy to fix and announced a solution "which will hold water" for the autumn.

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