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

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FRIDAY, 1 May
        LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša made the case for unorthodox policies to battle the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic as he sent out a message on Labour Day. He suggested tax and social systems will have to be reformed, which would include consideration of universal basic income.
        LJUBLJANA - In a Labour Day address, President Borut Pahor emphasised the important role of the state as evident in the ongoing response to the coronavirus epidemic. The state "does not exist merely to have an army or police. It is also a welfare state, a state governed by the rule of law."
        BRUSSELS, Belgium - Janez Lenarčič, the Slovenian EU commissioner in charge of crisis management, said the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the need for the EU to play a greater role in health and civil protection. He plans to propose that the Commission directly order equipment for the strategic European stockpile.
        LJUBLJANA - Thousands of cyclists took to the streets, accusing the government of curtailing civil liberties in what was the latest in a series of protests targeting the government's anti-coronavirus and other policies. The rally was organised by twenty-odd self-organised groups and civil society organisations on Facebook.
        LJUBLJANA - LGBT+ rights NGOs acknowledged that preventive measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 are necessary but also warn that lockdown restrictions have resulted in the loss of safe spaces.
        BRNIK - The Foreign Ministry said Slovenia had received 12 tonnes of protective personal equipment from China. The shipment contained 30,000 N95 masks, 700,000 surgical masks, 20,000 protective overalls, 10,000 goggles and 30,000 gloves.
        VATICAN CITY - Vatican News reported that Mitja Leskovar, a Slovenian priest who has been with the Vatican's diplomatic service for nearly two decades, was appointed the apostolic nuncio to Iraq.

SATURDAY, 2 May
        LJUBLJANA - PM Janez Janša said that Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek was still enjoying his trust in the wake of accusations of political pressure in the purchasing of personal protective equipment and ventilators. Janša added that a government report on the procurement would be sent to parliament next week.
        
SUNDAY, 3 May
        LJUBLJANA - It was a second consecutive day that none of the persons tested for coronavirus tested positive, coming after what was the first day with in Slovenia no new infections since the first infection was confirmed on 4 March.
        LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Union of Journalists said in a statement marking World Press Freedom Day that the media sector had adjusted to the epidemic situation quickly and effectively but it faced great uncertainty after the corona crisis was over and the government is increasing this uncertainty.
        BERLIN, Germany - Slovenian freelance journalist Blaž Zgaga, a member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, was one of 17 recipients of the Freedom of Speech Award given out by the German public international broadcaster Deutsche Welle to journalists from 14 countries who have been persecuted for coronavirus reporting.

MONDAY, 4 May
        LJUBLJANA - Four centre-left opposition parties filed a motion of no confidence in Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek, accusing him of being responsible for profiteering of individuals and companies in the purchases of personal protective equipment. The motion has little chance of succeeding as coalition parties indicated their support for the minister and even the opposition National Party (SNS) said it would not vote for his dismissal.
        LJUBLJANA - The Health Ministry decided to rescind a EUR 8 million contract with the company Geneplanet for the purchase of 220 Siriusmed R30 ventilators. This was proposed by Geneplanet after the ventilators came under fire as being unsuitable for Covid-19 patients. Geneplanet has already delivered 110 of these ventilators, but the final number of accepted venitlators will be 90.
        LJUBLJANA - Lockdown restrictions were eased further as stores under 400m2 outside shopping malls reopened along with bar terraces, hair salons and beauty parlours. Some museums and libraries reopened and church services resumed. Despite the easing, strict physical distancing measures still apply.
        LJUBLJANA - Slovenia pledged EUR 13.76 million in a global online pledging marathon supporting research into a possible vaccine and treatment for coronavirus. More than EUR 7.4 billion has been raised in the EU campaign.
        BRDO PRI KRANJU - As the National Security Council met for a session, the government decided to upgrade the national protection and rescue plan in the part pertaining to epidemics in order to address issues that may occur in the case of a possible second wave of the Covid-19 epidemic.
        NOVA GORICA/KOBARID - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs visited the communities along Slovenia's western border, announcing the reopening of two border check points with Italy and discussing the possibility of reopening several others.
        LJUBLJANA - Verica Trstenjak, a former advocate general at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, was put forward as a candidate for a member of the supervisory board of Slovenia's largest bank, NLB. The vote on her appointment will be taken at the shareholders' meeting on 15 June.
        LJUBLJANA - Police said it had recorded a 20% increase in domestic violence since the start of the coronavirus epidemic, when the period is compared with the same period last year. At the same time, the number of crimes against public order has decreased.

TUESDAY, 5 May
        LJUBLJANA - The four coalition parties filed for a parliamentary inquiry to look into the situation, handling, stock, orders and purchases of protective and critical medical equipment needed to battle Covid-19 between 1 February and 20 April, and thus outmaneuvered the four centre-left opposition parties that submitted a rival motion for an relevant inquiry just hours later.
        LJUBLJANA - After a video conference with his counterparts from the EU, Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik said Slovenia would not compromise the right to privacy for a mobile contact tracing app. Slovenia is among the countries in which the right to privacy is very restrictively defined, he added.
        BRUSSELS, Belgium - As the EU ministers in charge of social affairs discussed national measures to tackle the coronavirus fallout, Slovenia's Labour Minister Janez Cigler Kralj agreed that the efforts should be boosted, adding that the crisis could be a stepping stone to a healthier balance between personal and professional lives.
        LJUBLJANA - The Chamber of Commerce said the Covid-19 lockdown had resulted in the retail sector posting very worrying results. The sector as a whole could see a EUR 6-7 billion drop in sales this year, which represents over 20% of annual revenue.
        LJUBLJANA - The official receiver of Adria Airways admitted EUR 87.7 million in claims from creditors out of a total of EUR 151 million reported since the air carrier entered into receivership last October. Few claims will be repaid, though, given that the bankruptcy estate is valued only at EUR 6 million.
        BRNIK - Airport operator Fraport Slovenija called on the government to help with keeping the company afloat and completing a new passenger terminal in time. The terminal, valued at EUR 21 million, was to open before Slovenia takes the presidency of the Council of the EU in July 2021.
        RIJEKA, Croatia - A consortium comprising Slovenia's Kolektor CPG, Croatia's GP Krk and Bosnia's Euroasfalt won a tender to build a state road in the Croatian port city of Rijeka. The three-kilometre road running on a very complex terrain will be built for EUR 61 million.
        LJUBLJANA - Slovenian courts were allowed to start holding hearings, deliver rulings and serve writes in non-urgent cases, after most activities were suspended on 16 March. Deadlines will still not apply in non-urgent cases in which writs would be served, according to guidance issued by the Supreme Court.

WEDNESDAY, 6 May
        LJUBLJANA - A nationwide antibody study found that one in thirty Slovenians has probably been exposed to the novel coronavirus, meaning that about 2-4% of the population may have gained some sort of immunity to Covid-19. Miroslav Petrovec of the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, which led the study, cautioned that this did not necessarily mean those people are immune to Covid-19.
        LJUBLJANA - The government released a report on PPE purchases, saying all procurement was executed in line with protocol and amid difficult circumstances that were aggravated by the failure of former PM Marjan Šarec to react sooner. The report says all the ordered ventilators had expert backing. The opposition responded by saying it did not provide insight into the developments but was primarily meant as a defence of the government.
        LJUBLJANA - Data from the Employment Service showed that the coronavirus crisis is taking a heavy toll on Slovenia's job market, as 10,793 people were added to the unemployment register in April alone, pushing the total up by 19.9% year-on-year to 88,648.
        LJUBLJANA - The European Commission projected that Slovenia's GDP will drop by 7% this year, while a 6.7% recovery is expected in 2021 on the back of stimulus measures. The forecast is nevertheless somewhat better than for the entire eurozone on average, which stands at -7.7% for this year and +6.3% for next year.
        LJUBLJANA - Acting Police Commissioner Anton Travner dismissed National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Darko Muženič, appointing Igor Lamberger as the NBI's acting head. Lamberger served as a deputy president of the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption from mid-2014 to mid-2019 and had previously worked for the Criminal Police Department.
        BRUSSELS, Belgium - PM Janez Janša urged for a continuation of EU enlargement continue without any further delays despite the coronavirus epidemic as the EU held a virtual summit with the leaders of Western Balkan countries. The EU needs to stay active in the region despite all the challenges, the PM's office wrote.
        LJUBLJANA - The government gave registered athletes the green light to start practising in outdoor facilities and to resume competitions in individual sports up to and including the national level, albeit without spectators.
        LJUBLJANA - The Infrastructure Ministry said that public transport in Slovenia will be relaunched on Monday, 11 May, after being suspended because of the coronavirus epidemic on 16 March.
        LJUBLJANA - The Supreme Court quashed a ruling that ordered the incumbent prime minister, Janez Janša, to pay EUR 6,000 in damages to a journalist for calling her a "washed-up prostitute" in a tweet. The journalist announced she will take her case to the Constitutional Court and the Journalists' Association (DNS) condemned the court's decision.
        LJUBLJANA - Three NGOs announced they had asked the Constitutional Court to examine tighter standards for NGOs to participate in procedures in which building permits are issued, which were introduced with the changes to the first fiscal stimulus package the government adopted to help businesses and households cope with the Covid-19 epidemic.
        LJUBLJANA - Zlatko Ficko was dismissed as director general of the SiDG state forestry company and chief supervisor Samo Mihelin was appointed in his place until a new management with full powers is appointed, but not longer than one year.
        BRNIK - Fraport Slovenija, the company operating Ljubljana airport, said it posted an operating loss of EUR 2.4 million in the first quarter of the year. It generated EUR 6.9 million in revenue in the period, 32% year-on-year.
        LJUBLJANA - The Chamber of Commerce said sales of new cars and vans plunged by 71% year-on-year in April and 39% in the first four months compared to the same period last year. Just 2,140 new cars and vans were sold in April, and 16,354 vehicles in the first four months of the year.
        
THURSDAY, 7 May
        LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor and some parties condemned Hungarian PM Viktor Orban's posting a photo of a Greater Hungary map - with parts of it stretching into present-day Slovenia - as a way of wishing Hungarian secondary school students good luck in taking history exams. The Foreign Ministry said it would not comment on such issues unless they were clearly intended for historical revisionism.
        LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar and French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian called in a video conference for a further strengthening of the strategic partnership between the two countries, also in light of their upcoming successive presidencies over the EU Council. Logar highlighted the car industry as crucial for both economies.
        NOVA GORICA/TRIESTE, Italy - Nova Gorica Mayor Klemen Miklavič warned about the extreme economic as well as social ramifications of the Covid-19 epidemic for the western Goriška region, caused mostly due to restricted links between Slovenia and Italy.
        KLAGENFURT, Austria - A group of Slovenian organisations in the Austrian province of Carinthia warned against attempts at historical revisionism and the denigrating of the Partisan liberation movement in the region. They stressed the Carinthian Partisans contributed to the victory over Nazism and the liberation of Austria.
        LJUBLJANA - The Journalists' Association (DNS) condemned the Supreme Court's decision to quash a ruling that ordered Prime Minister Janez Janša to pay damages to a reporter after having called her a washed-up prostitute in a Twitter post in 2016. It said the ruling had a chilling effect on journalists.
        LJUBLJANA - A Valicon survey showed the public's concern about the coronavirus had dropped under 60% for the first time since the middle of March, when the epidemic was declared. The uneasiness about the threat of the virus culminated at 86% in the week after the epidemic was declared and dropped to 57% this week.
        ŠKOFLJICA - A 56-year-old man strolling in the woods near Škofljica, just south of Ljubljana, was attacked by a bear, getting out of the incident without life-threatening injuries. On average, two bear attacks on humans are recorded in Slovenia annually.

All our posts in this series are here

STA, 8 May 2020 - The Financial Administration has paid a second monthly basic allowance to self-employed, farmers and religious workers who lost their income as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, transferring at total of EUR 27.5 million to more than 37,500 claimants on Friday.

The basic income was paid to those who submitted a statement by 30 April that the epidemic prevented them from doing business or severely affected its scope. The allowance amounts to EUR 350 for March and EUR 700 for April.

The list of 37,516 beneficiaries was published on the website of the Financial Administration.

Related: How to Claim "Corona Aid" as an SP in Slovenia - Fast, Easy & Online

In late April, the administration transferred EUR 11.2 million to just over 32,000 claimants. They were eligible if they suffered a loss of income of at least 25% in March compared to February, or a 50% drop in April or May compared to February.

The eligibility was expanded under amendments to the coronavirus stimulus package that entered into force last Saturday to those whose revenue this year has dropped more than 10% compared with 2019. If they did not do business throughout 2019 or 2020, monthly income will be taken into account.

The eligible self-employed, farmers and religious workers are also exempt paying from social contributions.

Also exempt from social charges under the first stimulus package are companies affected by the epidemic.

From the time the epidemic was declared on 13 March and by the end of March, employers paid over EUR 90 million less in contributions, a cost covered by the state.

Such aid is available to companies that have put their workers on furlough because of a lack of work, as well as those that have remained in business despite the epidemic.

The state is paying salaries and social contributions for workers on furlough or those prevented from coming to work by a force majeure.

The companies whose staff continue to work are eligible for an exemption to social charges, if they pay a monthly crisis bonus of EUR 200 to each employee whose last monthly pay did not exceed more than threefold the monthly minimum wage.

STA, 7 May 2020 - Details are emerging of a package of state aid the Slovenian tourism sector will get to survive what is expected to be a deep slump. Aside from an extension of existing measures that all companies are eligible for, tourism companies will get an extra loan facility and a short-time work scheme.

 A short-term work scheme, best known by its German name Kurzarbeit (Wikipedia), will be put in place as part of the third stimulus package, Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek told the press on Thursday.

Existing schemes such as state financing of temporary layoffs, which expire at the end of May, will be extended for tourism companies by between four and eight months to facilitate a gradual reopening of the sector.

A lending facility providing liquidity loans of EUR 5,000-40,000 for small and medium-sized companies will be put in place and grants of EUR 16 million total will be available to cover the running costs of restaurants and accommodation services.

"The state will help tourism because it is an industry hit by coronavirus in the most drastic way," said Počivalšek, adding that the industry needed "measures that will facilitate not just survival but also restructuring and the development of new products."

"We want to preserve jobs in tourism, retain high-quality staff and help smaller providers survive," he said. The situation is expected to improve next year, but Počivalšek stressed that some estimate tourism may need up to five years to recover.

While outdoor areas of bars reopened this week and restaurants have been serving take-away food for several weeks now, the bulk of the hospitality sector remains shut down as hotels, spas, campsites and tour operators await the government's decision to reopen.

A document circulated on social media in recent days suggested accommodation providers with up to 30 beds could reopen on 12 May along with restaurants, bars and campsites, followed by tour operators, larger hotels, wellness centres and pools on 1 June.

Počivalšek said these dates were merely indicative. "They still need to be examined. Some are more likely, others less so."

Another major unknown are instructions for precautionary measures that providers will have to follow. Počivalšek said they were being finalised and would be presented shortly.

All our stories on coronavirus and Slovenia are here

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:

President, some parties condemn Orban's posting of Greater Hungary map

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor condemned Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's posting a photo of a Greater Hungary map, with which he wished Hungarian secondary school students good luck in taking history exams. The photo shows a globe with Hungarian lands expanding into Slovenia and several other European countries, the territories which Hungary lost with the demise of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after WWI. The Foreign Ministry said it would not comment on such issues unless they were clearly intended for historical revisionism and the office of the prime minister said Slovenian government offices had historical maps well. Parties including the Left, Social Democrats (SD) and New Slovenia (NSi) called for a determined response by the authorities. (Details)

Only one new coronavirus infection, no new deaths

LJUBLJANA - The coronavirus epidemic in Slovenia keeps flattening out, with only one new case confirmed on Wednesday out of 1,055 tests conducted, bringing the national case count to 1,449. The death total remains unchanged at 99 as no new deaths have been reported. Data obtained by the newspaper Dnevnik from the National Institute of Public Health, show that almost 80% of the casualties are care home residents and almost 30% of those infected have been care home residents or staff. (Full corona update)

Logar and Le Drian in favour of close ties between Slovenia and France

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar and French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian called in a video conference for a further strengthening of the strategic partnership between the two countries, also in light of their upcoming successive presidencies over the EU Council. Logar backed the implementation of the activities planned in the strategic partnership action plan for 2019-2022, singling out the car industry as crucial for both economies.

Four more border checkpoints open for commuters

LJUBLJANA - The government decided to open several new border checkpoints with Italy and the railroad crossing in Šentilj, on the border with Austria. People commuting across the border, whose with fields on the other side and those with immediate family members on the other side of the border will be able to cross to and from Italy at border crossings Predel, Erjavčeva Street in Nova Gorica and Neblo. The railway checkpoint in Šentilj, north of Maribor, was opened as well.

Western region warns about Covid-19 impact, minority affected too

NOVA GORICA/TRIESTE, Italy - Nova Gorica Mayor Klemen Miklavič warned about the extreme economic as well as social ramifications of the Covid-19 epidemic for the western Goriška region, caused mostly due to restricted links between Slovenia and Italy. Warnings about the crisis taking a toll on the Slovenian minority in Italy emerged as well with Bojan Brezigar, a former editor-in-chief of the minority newspaper Primorski Dnevnik, saying it was unacceptable that the border with Italy was more hermetically sealed than that with Austria or Croatia during the coronavirus pandemic.

Slovenian minority in Austria warns against WWII revisionism

KLAGENFURT, Austria - A group of Slovenian organisations in the Austrian province of Carinthia warned against attempts at historical revisionism and the denigrating of the Partisan liberation movement in the region. They stressed the Carinthian Partisans contributed to the victory over Nazism and the liberation of Austria, in statement that came after a 4 May press conference at which Carinthia Governor Peter Kaiser and Parliament Speaker Reinhart Rohr spoke of "Carinthia's self-liberation" 75 years ago.

DeSUS head Pivec says times too sensitive for political clashes

LJUBLJANA) - Commenting on allegations of irregularities in the government's procurement of personal protective equipment, the head of the junior coalition Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) Aleksandra Pivec said the current situation was too sensitive to be abused for political clashes. "If mistake were made by any side, this warrants attention. However not by the public and the media but by the relevant authorities, which also need to penalise irregularities and hold those to be recognised as responsible accountable," Pivec said.

New army chief believes soldiers should enjoy better status

LJUBLJANA - The new chief of the general staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF), Brigadier General Robert Glavaš, believes that soldiers should enjoy better reputation in Slovenian society. He also talked to the STA about the recent negative mark on the army's preparedness for wartime action, noting it had much to do with staff shortages. He does not favour the idea to reintroduce conscription, dismissing the argument military service could put "spoiled youth" into line.

Journalists condemn Supreme Court's quashing of lawsuit against Janša

LJUBLJANA - The Journalists' Association (DNS) condemned the Supreme Court's decision to quash a ruling that ordered Prime Minister Janez Janša to pay damages to a reporter after having called her a washed-up prostitute in a Twitter post in 2016. It said the ruling had a threatening effect on journalists, who are targetted by insults, defamation and threats on social media on a daily basis simply for doing their jobs, describing the the court's reasoning that admitting the journalist's damages claim would interfere with Janša's freedom of political expression "perverse".

Parliament meeting over govt PPE report Monday

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly will meet for an emergency session on Monday to debate the government report on the stockpile and procurement of personal protective equipment and other medical supplies needed to fight the coronavirus epidemic, which puts its accusing finger at the previous government. The college of deputy group leaders called the session despite the opposition arguing more time was needed to prepare to respond to the accusations levelled against the Marjan Šarec government.

Details of tourism aid package emerging

LJUBLJANA - Details emerged of a package of state aid the Slovenian tourism sector will get to survive what is expected to be a deep slump. Aside from an extension of existing measures that all companies are eligible for, notably state funding of temporary layoffs, small tourism companies will get an extra loan facility and a short-time work scheme will be put in place, Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek announced.

Poll: People in favour of restrictions easing, still cautious

LJUBLJANA - The public's concern about the coronavirus dropped under 60% for the first time since the middle of March. Uneasiness about the threat of the virus culminated at 86% in the week after the epidemic was declared and dropped to 57% this week, the latest survey by Valicon shows. The decline is faster than in the previous weeks, which Valicon says might be attributed to a significant easing of restrictions this week.

Warnings against budget cuts in culture

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Culture Committee debated on Wednesday the budget for culture in conjunction with measures to contain the coronavirus epidemic. The session was demanded by the Left, which supported demands of more than 40 umbrella associations which represent over 100,000 people working in culture and over a thousand organisations, which sent a letter to the government warning against culture budget cuts during the epidemic.

Bear attacks 56-year-old in Škofljica area

ŠKOFLJICA - A 56-year-old man strolling in the woods near Škofljica, just south of Ljubljana, was attacked by a bear. The is said to have surprised the animal and used his hands and a walking stick to defend himself, the Forests Institute told the STA. Police said the man's injuries are not life-threatening. A bear attack happened in the same area last June. On average, two bear attacks on humans are recorded in Slovenia every year. (Details)

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Contents

Only one new coronavirus infection, no new deaths

Four more border checkpoints open for commuters

Sports making comeback, great deal of improvisation still involved

Bar tables no longer limited to members of same household

Poll: People in favour of restrictions easing, still cautious

Western region warns about Covid-19 impact, minority affected too

Only one new coronavirus infection, no new deaths

STA, 7 May 2020 - The coronavirus epidemic in Slovenia keeps flattening out, with only one new case confirmed on Wednesday out of 1,055 tests conducted, bringing the national case count to 1,449. No new deaths have been reported.

Fresh data from the government show that one more Covid-19 patient was discharged from hospital yesterday, leaving only 52 hospitalised with the novel disease.

Only 13 remained in intensive care units, one fewer than the day before.

Covid-19 has so far claimed 99 lives in Slovenia. Almost 80% of the casualties are care home residents, the newspaper Dnevnik has reported.

Data obtained by the paper from the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ), show that 78 care home residents with Covid-19 have died as of 4 May. Ten of them died in hospital and 68 in the home.

The institute only provided cumulative data, while unofficial data obtained by Dnevnik from those reported by the NIJZ to civil protection teams, show that by 4 May a total of 425 coronavirus infections have been confirmed in 17 old-age facilities, 320 of them were residents and 105 staff.

In six homes infections have been confirmed only in staff.

The figures mean that 22% of the total of confirmed cases in the country as of Monday (1,445) were elderly care home residents, along with the staff the proportion is almost 30%.

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Four more border checkpoints open for commuters

STA, 7 May 2020 - The government has decided to open several new border checkpoints with Italy and the railroad crossing in Šentilj, on the border with Austria. The decision was made at a correspondence session on Thursday so as to make it easier to help jump-start the economy on both sides of the border as the coronavirus crisis eases.

Under the decision, people commuting across the border, whose with fields on the other side and those with immediate family members on the other side of the border will be able to cross to and from Italy at border crossings Predel, Erjavčeva Street in Nova Gorica and Neblo.

Moreover, the government decided to reopen the railway checkpoint in Šentilj, north of Maribor, as Slovenia is about to restart public transport in Monday.

A number of border crossings have been closed since mid-March, when Slovenia declared Covid-19 epidemic. At the moment, people are able to cross the border with Italy at Vrtojba, Fernetiči, Škofije, Rateče, Robič and Krvavi Potok, with the latter two open only during the day.

On the border with Austria, the check points Trate, Radelj, Svečina, Kuzma, Gederovci, Šentilj, Gornja Radgona, Karavanke, Vič, Holmec and Ljubelj are open, with the latter two operating only during the day.

Only three crossings are open on the border with Hungary, the shortest border Slovenia shares with a neighbouring country: Pince, Dolga Vas and Hodoš.

Crossing into Croatia is possible through the checkpoints in Sečovlje, Dragonja, Sočerga, Podgorje, Starod, Jelšane, Babno Polje, Petrina, Vinica, Metlika, Slovenska Vas, Obrežje, Rigonce, Orešje, Bistrica ob Sotli, Imeno, Rogatec, Dobovec, Gruškovje, Zavrč, Ormož, Središče ob Dravi, Gibina and Petišovci.

However, only people with special permits, allowed to work on fields on the other side of the border, commuters and those with immediate family members may cross the border without having to go into quarantine. All other passengers are required to self-isolate for a week.

A special regimen is in place for transit transport.

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Sports making comeback, great deal of improvisation still involved

STA, 7 May 2020 - While the detailed practice protocols for many sports, for instance swimming and in particular team sports, are still pending, Slovenian athletes are returning to training en masse after the government on Wednesday permitted controlled practice sessions and individual competitions without spectators.

Although it is not yet clear when football competitions will resume, the return to ball training is being hailed across the board among Slovenian football clubs, even if some are still struggling with the improvisation necessary to secure proper protection.

Some are having to do without foreign players and coaches who are stranded abroad or in compulsory quarantine, one example being Sežana's coach Mauro Camoranesi, who has problems getting back from Argentina.

"We're working hard on somehow getting him a flight from South America, but we probably won't be able to count on him for a while longer. The fitness coach will run the practice sessions until his return - for a while he will also have to do without six players who remain quarantined. The boys will practice in groups of four," the club said.

A similar approach will multiple groups has also been adopted by other clubs, which say they are determined to observe the protective measures.

"We opted for even sticker measures than proposed by the Public Health Institute. We briefed the players on the details in a video conference, secured disinfectants, we will take the players' temperature before practice, they will get their own accessories to take home with them, they will not be allowed to touch the ball with their hands or heads. Health comes first," the management of the Ljubljana club Bravo said.

Some athletes already returned to training a while ago, with the Track and Field Association for instance drawing up guidelines as soon a the government lifted the ban on certain individual sports for recreational purposes in mid-April.

Slovenia's triple jump record holder Marija Šestak told the STA that a lot of improvisation had been involved as well, with fitness gear for instance being moved outdoors.

She however warned that serious training had not been possible for more than a month, "which is why an immediate return to competitions should not be expected, not least because of excessive risk of injury".

The government decree also allows for training in contact sports, provided there is no change in training partners, and in sports with two-members teams, which is great news for the 470 class sailing duo Tina Mrak and Veronika Macarol that will be aiming at top spots at the Tokyo Olympics.

Many issue however remain open, for instance swimming pool regimes, the joint use of indoor halls and in particular of equipment, for instance in gymnastics.

"Disinfecting the floor and the goals after each training is still much easier than for instance cleaning gymnastic apparatus. We're waiting for instructions by producers on how to go about disinfection, how alcohol impacts the equipment ... We don't want to ruin it," explained Andrej Kastelic of the city-owned sports facility operator Šport Ljubljana, most of whose 100-plus facilities remain closed for now.

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Bar tables no longer limited to members of same household

STA, 7 May 2020 - The National Institute for Public Health (NIJZ) has made changes to its guidelines for bars and restaurants, which have been allowed to serve guests outside since Monday. The rules no longer stipulate that only members of the same household may sit at the same table, however guests at the same table must now sit 1.5 metres apart.

The rule that only members of the same household may sit at the same table had caused dismay among bar proprietors, who said it was impossible for them to know whether the guests are indeed from the same household.

Now, people who are not from the same household may sit at the same table, but they must keep a distance of at least 1.5 metres. The same distance is advised in general for all guests and serving staff.

Bars and restaurants are also advised to limit the number of people sitting at the same table.

While the update is likely to appease bar owners to a certain extent, some of the rules they have criticised in recent days remain in place.

The Chamber of Trade Crafts and Small Business (OZS), which represents thousands of proprietors, has criticised the requirement that cutlery must be wrapped in plastic or a paper towel.

Another major target of criticism is the requirement that restrooms must be disinfected every hour. Bar owners say they should have discretion to disinfect the premises as needed.

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Poll: People in favour of restrictions easing, still cautious

STA, 7 May 2020 - The public's concern about the coronavirus has dropped under 60% for the first time since the middle of March, when the epidemic was declared. The uneasiness about the threat of the virus culminated at 86% in the week after the epidemic was declared and dropped to 57% this week, the latest survey by Valicon shows.

The decline is faster than in the previous weeks, which Valicon says might be attributed to a significant easing of restrictions this week and to the encouraging results of the nationwide Covid-19 testing, released this week.

Almost 90% of those polled support this week's reopening of bars and relaunch of many other services, but are still prudent in using them.

A fifth of all respondents had been eagerly awaiting the relaunch of services such as bars, hairdresser's or churches, and have already used at least one such service.

Still, 39% are reserved; while in favour of lifting the services restrictions, they intend to wait at least until next week before using any.

Almost a third are in favour of the easing but believe it is being done without a proper plan, whereas 3% are against it altogether.

Asked to describe their feelings as more services are becoming available, most of those polled (31%) cited caution, followed by approval (21%) and joy (14%).

Eight percent said they felt uncertain and 2% afraid, while 11% said they were indifferent.

Almost four in ten believe the restrictions still in place to contain the virus are too harsh, which is the same at two weeks ago but 6 percentage points more than last week.

The rise could be, according to Valicon, a result of people using some of the services again available and of the nationwide testing, which showed the virus is much less spread than some have thought.

Market research agency Valicon carried out the latest instalment of its special coronavirus survey among 502 adults between 5 and 7 May.

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Western region warns about Covid-19 impact, minority affected too

STA, 7 May 2020 - Nova Gorica Mayor Klemen Miklavič has warned about the extreme economic as well as social ramifications of the Covid-19 epidemic for the western Goriška region, caused mostly due to restricted links between Slovenia and Italy. Warnings about the crisis taking a toll on the Slovenian minority in Italy have emerged as well.

"Due to Goriška's dependency on the Italian market, suppliers and consumers, who have experienced a significant drop in their spending power, the region's companies will be faced with the worst crisis in the past three decades.

"The local authorities predict that a lot of companies will go bust, leading to a spike in unemployment. Other companies will have to search for new markets, suppliers, business partners and consumers. We're looking at a high unemployment rate and social struggles," said Miklavič following Wednesday's visit of the Italian Ambassador to Slovenia Carlo Campanile to the town of Nova Gorica.

Tourism and casino business have been hit the most among the economic sectors, including restaurants, accommodation facilities and shops. Given the region's excessive reliance on the gambling business, Goriška is teetering on the precipice of an economic crash, he added.

The mayor would like to see some changes in that respect in the future, such as creating new jobs in entrepreneurship, most notably in high-tech companies providing jobs for the young.

Slovenia's leading gaming company HIT has estimated that its gross realisation between January and April has already dropped by as much as 35% compared to the same period in 2019. The figure keeps increasing with every month the company's casinos stay closed.

The majority of Hit staff works in the region, 1,300 out of a total of 1,700 employed, with only some 100 currently not being on furlough. The casinos have been closed since mid-March. Rumour has it that the company is to slash its workforce by some 400 and even go as far as to close down one of its casinos permanently.

Miklavič has called on the government to prioritise providing aid to the region, including in development investments and tax reliefs, to mitigate the fallout, reduce dependency on the Italian market and support new businesses.

Apart from economic repercussion, restrictions on the border with Italy have also have had a strong social impact.

Bojan Brezigar, a former editor-in-chief of the minority newspaper Primorski Dnevnik, told the STA on Thursday that it was unacceptable that the border with Italy was more hermetically sealed than that with Austria or Croatia during the coronavirus pandemic.

Brezigar said that the Slovenian minority in Italy was upset by Slovenia's attitude regarding the matter as well as by the attitude of some mayors of regions bordering on Italy.

"We are saddened by Slovenia's attitude regarding the border as well as that by its institutions and mayors of towns near the border, including Koper, Sežana and others. The border was open, a fact that meant a great success for us," he said, adding that the strong community there, including the locals who used to cross the border daily or at least regularly, has now been without the option for two months.

He believes that the government has thus shown its true colours about the issue. Brezigar has reiterated that the minority means mostly a budget problem for Slovenia and not a development issue.

The minority representative and former lead editor of the daily, published in the Slovenian language in Italy's Trieste, deems the situation an issue of responsibility and political sensitivity, urging the government to take into account the troubled situation of the minority.

He pointed to the erection of a fence between Nova Gorica and Gorizia, the border towns which have been cooperating closely, highlighting that the Gorizia area was considered one of the Italian regions hit the least by the virus.

Slovenia reintroduced border checks on the border with Italy on 11 March due to the coronavirus outbreak. Only seven entry points have been set up to enable crossings that are warranted. Upon entering Slovenia, all persons need to be quarantined for a week. Public transport between the two countries has been suspended as well.

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STA, 7 May 2020 - President Borut Pahor and several parties have condemned Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's posting a photo of a Greater Hungary map, with which he wished Hungarian secondary school students good luck in taking history exams.

Posted on Facebook on Wednesday, the photo shows a globe with Hungarian lands expanding into Slovenia and several other European countries, the territories which Hungary lost with the demise of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after WWI.

"It is understandable and right that the recurring postings of maps which could be understood as an expression of territorial claims are met with rejection and concern by the democratic public and politics, including me as the president of the republic," Pahor told the news portal 24ur.com when asked to comment on Orban's provocation.

He believes "it is because of such attempts that we should make an even greater effort to advocate ... respect and cooperation within nations and among nations".

The president also announced that he would draw this to the attention of his Hungarian counterpart Janos Ader's during an official visit planned for July.

The Foreign Ministry said that just like in the past, it would not comment on historical maps published abroad in different contexts, for instance for the purpose of research, education or exhibition, if they are not related to a clear intention or mention of revisionism.

The Ministry told the STA it "closely follows the contexts or the manners in which such historical maps are used and interpreted".

The office of the prime minister said where were historical maps in government offices, including an 1853 map of Slovenian lands that they say depicts "Greater Slovenia".

Learn more about "Greater Slovenia" on Wikipedia

Social Democrat (SD) MP Matjaž Nemec, the chair of the foreign policy committee, voiced the expectation that Slovenian foreign policy will "react decisively...to show it is not a puppet of the Hungarian regime".

"When Orban, a friend of the ruling SDS, does not even conceal his plans any more. I expect a sharp response from all in government. Now is the time to show commitment to your country," he wrote on Twitter.

The coalition New Slovenia likewise said it expected "Slovenian diplomacy to react appropriately and warn the neighbouring Hungary that such 'history lessons' are unacceptable."

"Let's respect the borders we have today, and let's work to minimise their divisiveness in our shared European future," the party wrote on Twitter.

The opposition Left said in a press release that "such provocations which instigate nationalist feelings must be condemned".

"The Janez Janša government will not do so, because it counts on the help of the neighbouring regime. Its goal is clear: to institute an authoritarian conservative regime modelled on Orban's Hungary in our country."

This is not the first time that Orban posted a Greater Hungary map.

Last June, his office tweeted such a map to mark Hungarian Day of National Unity, commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Trianon, with which Hungary lost over 70% of its territory. In December, he posted a photo on Facebook showing his Fidezs party in a meeting under the same map.

Orban's June 2019 incident was condemned by Pahor, the Foreign Ministry, then Prime Minister Marjan Šarec, and several parties, including New Slovenia (NSi), which is now in government, while Janša's Democrats (SDS) said they would not comment.

Part 1: Going Through the Coronavirus Grief Cycle in Slovenia

Part 2: Are We All in the Same Boat? Lockdown in Slovenia & Around the World

This is my a second attempt at this article, my first attempt was so morbid and depressing that I found myself grateful that I didn't keep stocks of pills and alcohol around the flat – although I don’t think you can OD on leftover antibiotics!

Well, with lockdown slowly lifting and the promise of reunion with old friends and students, life is much better than it was three weeks ago – when there was barely a glimmer at the end of a seemingly endless tunnel. So being in a much more positive mood, I have had time to reflect on some of the skills and knowledge I have acquired while in solitary lockdown.

First and foremost, food. As a former ‘career girl’, I lived on expense account meals, cigarettes, carrots (to counteract the cigarettes),  and the hospitality of friends and lovers. When I entertained I hired the auspices of Mary, who cooked and delivered straight to the oven, half an hour before the event, while I ostentatiously prepared the salad.

Now, as a teacher living abroad, I have neither the money nor Mary, and struggle by on Jamie Oliver’s Easy Peasy Pasta, tins of jota and ricet, and weekend restaurant treats – and, of course, carrots. They were not so necessary, as I had stopped buying cigarettes, and only smoked OPs  Other Peoples) at weekends.

So isolation provided me with the time and opportunity to experiment with ‘easy’ Asian, Indian, Italian and Korean recipes – with mixed success, and much pot burning. In desperation, I learnt about the 18-minute rice cooking method, and I have perfected the art of exotic salad making. I use nuts, strawberries, avocado, asparagus, chickpeas, onions, baby tomatoes and kale and my piece de resistance is my unique blend of dressing using grated horseradish, lemon juice and parmesan. I have learnt to eat healthily, using up all my ingredients in either salads, smoothies or stir-fries. Had I stuck to this diet, I would be slimmer and sleeker, but unfortunately, I have become chronically addicted to chocolate and currently, I’m trying to wean myself down to one bar every two days – but it's difficult.

Secondly, I have used the extra time to indulge in my passion for writing, getting as far as a book proposal, rehashing it and now stuck in a mire of self-doubt. However, in the quest of furthering my, as yet, undiscovered literary skills, I embarked on and completed an inspirational course on screenwriting (www.futurelearn.com)  and I am now trying to adapt my short story of an adventure in the Nicaraguan outback into a screenplay – I am currently stuck at the ‘beat sheet’ where I have to list the dramatic events in sequence, but I intend to do this after finishing this. Concentration is an ongoing problem. I have already paid for a 150-page feedback report from one of the educators on the course in September, so I am financially motivated. A positive side effect of this course was having to study various films, and screenplays – many of which I hadn’t seen, and which proved to be most enjoyable, some even uplifting and most importantly I learnt to download films. I have l already chosen the actors for my oncoming film debut – Olivia Coleman and Paul Mescal. And on a more modest level, I am writing articles like this again.

Thirdly, introspection on a grand scale. Perhaps too much, but so much time alone enforces reflection on friendships, love affairs, career, life achievements (or lack of them)  the past is alive and kicking and tends to dominate the conscious, manifesting in vivid dreams. The present is in a kind of suspended animation, and the future uncertain to put it mildly. I have found the prevailing atmosphere pensive, verging on apprehensive as I perform my daily cycle along the river. Few return my cheerful ‘Dober Dan’, each lost in their inner world, although yesterday, there was a definite improvement and people in cafes and bars were smiling, almost laughing – until they saw the bill!

I have been alone, not necessarily lonely, but I have found the lack of freedom of choice difficult. It makes you re-evaluate friendships, at home and abroad, and hugely appreciate the small acts of kindness shown by some kindly, and often unexpected souls – a distanced bike ride or walk by the river, a basket of homegrown vegetables and the delivery of delicious home cooking. These small actions are cherished, never to be forgotten. No amount of Skype or WhatsApp airtime can replace the proximity of living beings, be it a dog or human. And most importantly being able to see the light in the eye, so lacking in remote conversation.

It's going to be strange meeting up with ‘friends’ who have not been in contact and trying to adjust to one’s new perception of friendship and life in general.

And last but definitely not least,  I fear I am in great danger of falling prey to the ‘nocebo effect’. The ‘nocebo effect’ is the opposite of the placebo effect. In other words, while the placebo effect heals, the nocebo effect harms – both without any pharmaceutical grounds for healing or harming. Both effects prove the mysterious, but the undoubted mind-body relationship, which shows how the power of the mind has considerable power over the healing or the harming of the body. A fact that can be biochemically measured and proven quantitatively in terms of enzymes, hormones and cellular change.

In the case of this pandemic, we are all in danger of catching the nocebo effect, especially if we regularly follow the news on the now ‘deadly coronavirus’. It has mutated from nasty flu to a very nasty flu, and now it’s commonly described as lethal. Statistics abound, with no comparisons or context, with the sole objective of increasing fear and trepidation (and thus lowering the immune system). After a rather acrimonious discussion with a medical friend, who himself, is medically compromised, he succeeded in not only in making me feel selfish for my desire to earn my living again (as I am sole earner), and my need to commune with living beings, other than the untalkative ducks and swans whom I see daily. And worst of all, he infected me with his very real fear of death by corona. The outcome of this discussion was that he (inadvertently) made me drink two glasses more than my self-regulated two glasses of Slovenian vino and chain smoke ten cigarettes in two hours while reading the doom-laden articles he sent me to substantiate his argument. So yesterday morning, after fearful dreams of open coffins floating down the Ljubljanica I woke with a headache  (slight hangover), coughing a bit (after my unaccustomed cigarette intake), combined with an overwhelming feeling of dread. And started rewriting my will.

Only the thrill of speaking to my favourite author, Dervla Murphy, and listening to her calm wisdom across the airwaves, was I in the mood to leave my will unfinished and to cycle across the city to my friend in Bežigrad. Ljubljana was Like a scene from Sleeping Beauty, I joyfully observed the mass of happy faces in the awakening city and the atmosphere changing from pensive to peaceful.

There seems to be the saplings of hope appearing, but beware all ye who abandon hope – you may fall prey to the incredibly infectious nocebo effect. Just remember the end is nigh!

Part 1: Going Through the Coronavirus Grief Cycle in Slovenia

Part 2: Are We All in the Same Boat? Lockdown in Slovenia & Around the World

You can find out more about Carol Jardine at her website, SpeakEasy English. All our stories on coronavirus and Slovenia are here

STA, 7 May 2020 - A 56-year-old man strolling in the woods near Škofljica, just south of Ljubljana, stumbled upon a bear, who attacked him, media have reported. The man reportedly surprised the animal and used his hands and a walking stick to defend himself, the Forests Institute told the STA. Police say the man's injuries are not life-threatening.

The man was strolling in the woods between the villages of Klada and Želimlje on Tuesday evening when he stumbled upon the bear.

According to the Forests Institute, the man did nothing to provoke the attack but he obviously came too close to the animal.

The 56-year-old returned home in shock and with multiple wounds on the upper part of his body. His family immediately took him to the hospital, where it was determined that he had only sustained light injuries and had no bite wounds.

The site of the incident was thoroughly checked and is still being monitored by the local hunting association. Police too are investigating the incident.

If the bear continues to come close to humans, showing no fear, the association said it would ask the Environment Agency for permission to shoot the animal.

A bear attack happened in the same area last June. Back then an 80-year old woman was the victim of a female bear, which was not killed after the incident.

On average, two bear attacks on humans are recorded in Slovenia every year. People do not encounter the beast frequently, as bears usually avoid contact with humans.

Encounters are the most frequent in the spring, when bears emerge from their dens after winter sleep and more people are out in the woods, as well as in the summer and autumn when people pick forest fruit and mushrooms.

Bears usually cause light injuries to humans, such as scratches and bites. Fatal injuries are rare. In Slovenia, three such cases have been recorded so far, the last one in 1987.

STA, 6 May 2020 - A government report on PPE purchases, released on Wednesday, says all procurement was executed in line with protocol and amid difficult circumstances that were aggravated by the failure of former PM Marjan Šarec to react sooner. The report says all the ordered ventilators had expert backing.

Announced by PM Janez Janša after the 24 April whistleblower accusations about heavy political meddling, the report provides insight over 80-plus pages into the stock of personal protective equipment before the epidemic and the current situation, stressing the PPE available on 16 March did not suffice for even a single day of the assessed needs at the time.

Accusing Šarec of omission of duties that could qualify as misfeasance in office, the report says "the most contentious decision was not to order quarantine for potentially infected individuals returning from Italy as a hotspot, and that the border with Italy was not closed in time or controlled with health checks".

It says that the little equipment that had been ordered under Šarec had been ordered at higher average prices than under the current Janez Janša government, even though the latter had to buy at one point irrespective of the prices.

While the World Health Organisation already warned on 3 March that PPE prices and supply times were rising drastically, the Šarec government did not call on the Health Ministry to start buying until 11 March, the reports says.

Šarec responded by tweeting: "Manipulative, misleading and unworthy of the paper it is printed on. Nothing about corruption and war profiteering."

Končno smo dočakali poročilo vlade o nakupih zaščitnih sredstev. Pričakovano, v stilu "mi smo super, odlični, če je pa karkoli spornega, je kriv MŠ". Manipulativno, zavajajoče in nevredno papirja na katerem bo natisnjeno. Nič o korupciji in vojnem dobičkarstvu.

— Marjan Šarec (@sarecmarjan) May 6, 2020

Meanwhile, elaborating on the procurement procedures, the reports says that procurement was centralised under the Commodities and Reserves Agency on 14 March, one day after the Janša government took over.

Given the agency's lack of staff and experience with such situations as well as Covid-19 cases there, the government formed on 24 March an inter-ministerial taskforce to receive, examine and evaluate bids for PPE supply. The group received 2,069 e-mails until 14 April, examining 1,081 of them.

Another coordination group was formed by the Economy Ministry on 25 March, but its members are said to have only "forwarded proposals to the Commodity Reserves Agency and coordinated activities for a quick supply of protective equipment".

"All final decisions were taken by the Commodity Reserves Agency," the report says, while explaining that the agency's deputy head Ivan Gale - who later spoke publicly about pressure by a number of influential individuals, in particular Economy Ministry Zdravko Počivalšek - had also been part of the coordination group.

Zooming into the period of the media-scrutinised orders of over 300 ventilators, the report says that the agency "signed between 16 and 24 March 21 contracts with PPE suppliers and 4 contracts with ventilator suppliers, with the Economy Ministry not being involved in negotiations and the signing of individual contracts".

"In this period the Economy Ministry got more actively involved only in the purchase of ventilators, urgently needed by hospitals to save lives," the report says, while adding the ministry did not have any decision-making powers here and that its approval needed for each contract only checked compliance with a five-year state programme for commodity reserves.

As for the choice of ventilators ordered in this period, the report says the numbers had been based on assessed potential future needs at the time and provides charts with ventilator offers, including expected supply times, and orders.

The much discussed 220 Siriusmed R30 ventilators ordered on 18 March through Geneplanet for EUR 8 million are listed among ventilators approved by experts. The reports says they got the "approval of Dr. Podbregar from the Celje General Hospital", while "the remaining three bids were approved by Dr. Noč, Dr. Gradišek and Dr. Knafelj from UKC Ljubljana".

Meanwhile, the report defends the decision to use intermediaries in the PPE purchases, saying the state could not afford to shoulder the high risks that were involved and have indeed been experienced in many countries.

It argues in favour of some much criticised domestically produced masks, including a batch made from material normally used for kitchen towels, and their high prices, saying each producer got the nod from UKC Ljubljana and that it was misleading to compare production costs at the time to current prices.

As for future steps, the report says that sufficient supplies for the short term have been secured by 10 April. The Commodity Reserves Agency, whose centralised procurement of PPE will end on 1 June, now has more space to negotiate on prices.

The government is proposing that the Court of Audit review the agency's activities in the first four months of the year and also look at all the purchases, renting and maintenance of ventilators in all Slovenian hospitals in the past five years.

It announced it would secure EUR 1 million for the start of ventilator production in Slovenia and another million for the production of FFP2 and FFP3 masks.

All our stories on the PPE scandal in Slovenia are here

STA, 6 May 2020 - The Supreme Court has quashed a ruling that ordered the incumbent prime minister, Janez Janša, to pay EUR 6,000 in damages to a journalist for calling her a "washed-up prostitute" in a tweet. The journalist has announced she will take her case to the Constitutional Court.

The Supreme Court rejected the journalist's damages claim after upholding Janša's appeal against the December 2018 ruling by the Celje Higher Court that upheld an earlier decision by the local court in Velenje ordering Janša to pay damages to Mojca Šetinc Pašek, a journalist and editor with TV Slovenija.

Šetinc Pašek brought the defamation suit over Janša's post on his Twitter profile in March 2016 reading "the FB page of the public house is offering cheap services by washed up prostitutes Evgenija C. and Mojca P.Š. One for 30 euros, the other for 35. #ZvodnikMilan".

Na neki FB strani javne hiše ponujajo poceni usluge odsluženih prostitutk Evgenije C im Mojce PŠ. Eno za 30€, drugo za 35€. #ZvodnikMilan.

— Janez Janša (@JJansaSDS) March 21, 2016

The Supreme Court has ascertained that an average follower of Janša's Twitter profile could understand the tweet referred to Šetinc Pašek's work for the public broadcaster rather than her private life, so the second instance court's surmise that the contentious tweet could be understood literally was inaccurate.

The latest judgement, which runs to 17 pages, argues that as TV Slovenija news programme editor Šetinc Pašek performed an extremely important and responsible job from the aspect of the public's right to know, hence her work was exposed to public criticism.

The Supreme Court infers that like Janša the editor was a public figure, for whom "the boundaries of permissible criticism are broader than with private persons".

"In this conflict between the defendant's freedom of political expression and the plaintiff's right to dignity and good name", the majority of the judging panel thus decided in favour of "the enlightenment principle that only free debate on major political topics makes it possible to near the truth".

"Thus, the position prevailed that priority needs to be given to the freedom of political expression. The Supreme Court has therefore not taken a stance on the non-legal aspects of the plaintiff's statement," reads the judgement passed on 6 February.

The court ordered Šetinc Pašek to compensate Janša for costs of the procedure within 15 days.

Šetinc Pašek described the judgement as "outright scandalous", adding that it meant Janša as the leader of the largest parliamentary party and the most powerful person in the country could insult unrestrained any journalist or editor who publishes what he disagrees with.

"Since in the opinion of a majority on the judging panel Twitter is a medium typical for bitter, rough, even insulting content. As if Janša was forced to publish on Twitter," commented the journalist, who called it a black day for Slovenian journalism and the public.

Janša was also sued by Carl, and both journalists brought criminal charges against him. In the criminal procedure Janša was sentenced to a three-month suspended sentence by the Celje District Court in November 2018, but the Celje Higher Court ordered a retrial last year.

All our Janez Janša stories are here