31 Dec 2019, 09:12 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Tuesday, 31 December 2019

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.

A schedule of all the main events involving Slovenia this week can be found here

This summary is provided by the STA:

Retail group Tuš enters preventive restructuring

CELJE - Three companies that form the heavily indebted retail group Tuš have entered preventive financial restructuring. The restructuring for the holding company Tuš Holding, its retail arm Engrotuš and its real estate arm Tuš Nepremičnine was initiated by the Celje District Court at the request of the companies themselves. Tuš said the new procedure had been initiated with the support of a majority of financial creditors since the existing master restructuring agreement will soon expire.

General government surplus at EUR 193 million in Q3

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia recorded an above-average general government surplus in the third quarter of the year, as it reached EUR 193 million or more than triple that in the same period last year, the Statistics Office said. The surplus represented 1.6% of Slovenia's GDP, and was up by EUR 134 million or 1.1% of GDP compared to the same period in 2018.

Inflation at 1.9% in 2019, 0.1% deflation recorded in December

LJUBLJANA - The annual inflation rate in Slovenia was 1.9% in 2019, the Statistics Office reported, with higher prices of food contributing the most to inflation. A 0.1% deflation was recorded at the monthly level in December. Prices of food were up by 3.5% this year, while prices of services increased by 2.6% and prices of goods by 1.3%.

Adria Mobil tops its past business results

NOVO MESTO - Caravan maker Adria Mobil achieved the best annual business result so far in the wake of its changed business year. The company said it had sold some 15,240 caravans and generated EUR 401.9 million in gross sales revenue from the beginning of September to the end of August, an 8% increase compared to the previous comparable cycle.

Ljubljana benchmark up 15% in 2019

LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana Stock Exchange had a bullish year, with the SBI TOP benchmark index adding 15.2% from the start of the year until the last trading day. Market capitalisation of all listed papers increased by 3% to EUR 34.9 billion. The SBI TOP closed the year at 926.1 points, just shy of its annual peak achieved on 16 December. The lowest level this year was recorded on 4 January, when it stood at 801.5 points.

Trump effigy defaced upon relocation

MORAVČE - Moravče, a town north-east of Ljubljana, is the new home of a giant wooden sculpture resembling US President Donald Trump, which stirred controversy in late summer when it was erected in a tiny nearby village. The night before the second unveiling, the effigy was defaced in an effort to add a Hitler-like moustache. Moravče Mayor Milan Balažic, wearing a localised MAGA hat, condemned the defacement saying that Moravče would serve as a shelter for the sculpture.

Russian biathlete Podchufarova waiting to compete for Slovenia

POKLJUKA - Russian biathlete Olga Podchufarova has applied for Slovenian citizenship and if she gets the go-ahead and the procedure is fast-tracked, she could come out of retirement to compete for Slovenia at the upcoming Pokljuka World Cup Biathlon in late January.

Diesel hits seven-month high

LJUBLJANA - Regulated diesel prices will hit a seven-month high of EUR 1.286 on Tuesday, up almost three cents, while petrol will be 1.6 cents more expensive at EUR 1.298 per litre. The prices of regular petrol and diesel sold at petrol stations outside the motorway and expressway network remain regulated by the state, while prices of fuel sold on motorway petrol stations are fully liberalised.

Visiting Ljubljana? Check out what's on this week, while all our stories on Slovenia, from newest to oldest, are here

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

30 Dec 2019, 14:21 PM

The Top 10 Films in Slovenia 2019 (Trailers, Subtitles)

There’s still day or so to go before the final figures, but the year-end grosses for the all the films released in cinemas during 2019 in Slovenia are more or less in. The top ten shows the continued dominance of Hollywood, comic books, cartoons, remakes, sequels and spin-offs, with just two original properties and one domestic title.

The year’s best performing movie at the box office was the CGI “live action” remake of The Lion King, with the top 10 showing some interesting variations with regard to the global list. Perhaps most notable is the fact that the world #1, Avengers: Endgame, is in third place in Slovenia, beaten by down to bronze by the darker and R-rated Joker (which landed at 7^th on the global list, and – due to the low production and marketing costs – was the most profitable of all comic book movies for the year).

The full top ten, along with the trailers (either with Slovene subtitles, or dubbed for kids’ movies), is shown below. Note that, for comparison purposes, the top grossing movie in independent Slovenia seems to have been 2016’s Pr 'Hostar, a broad Slovenian comedy, which earned €1,088,441 in ticket sales. (Since Box Office Mojo gives the figures in US dollars we changed them to euros using today’s rate of $1 = €0.89.)

#1 The Lion King - €702,858

#2 Joker - €565,990

#3 Avengers: Endgame - €503,711

Other movies that were bigger hits in Slovenia than worldwide include How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World (#5), The Secret Life of Pets 2 (#6), Košarkar naj bo 2 (Let Him be a Basketball Player 2) (#8, and the only Slovene picture in the top 30), Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood (#9) and Abominable (#10). The latest Star Wars movie, The Rise of Skywalker, is #10 globally, but only #22 in Slovenia – well behind the 15^th placed The Angry Birds Movie 2.

#4 Frozen 2 - €475,782

#5 How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World - €441,293

#6 The Secret Life of Pets 2 - €325,124

#7 Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw - €313,087

#8 Kosarkar Naj Bo 2 - €298,108

#9 Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood - €288,761

#10 Abominable € 271,059 $304,561

2019 in Slovenian film…

As noted above, other than Košarkar…, with ticket sales of €298,108 it wasn’t a great year at the box office for local productions. Preboj (Breakthrough), the story of the “young partisan resistance fighter commander Franc Sever Franta [who] faces an impossible task when he has to rescue 500 freedom fighters surrounded and outnumbered by a Nazi German division high in the mountains in harsh winter condition” – came in at #37, grossing around € 73,683, one place head of the failed blockbuster Terminator: Dark Fate. Meanwhile, the heavily promoted Ne Bom Vec Luzerka (My Last Year as a Loser) was the 78^th most popular movie at the box office in Slovenia, taking at total of around €29,835, and the award-winning Zgodbe iz kostanjevih gozdov (Stories from the Chestnut Woods) was at #89, with €23,761. You can see the trailers for all these below:

30 Dec 2019, 11:59 AM

Feature: A Record 2019 Suggests Some “Hidden Gems” Already Over-Touristed

STA, 24 December 2019 - For years, Slovenia had been focussing on pushing tourism figures up, boasting new records year after year. Now, its main tourist destinations are slowly starting to take a step back. Acknowledging the grievances of local population and the environmental impact of mass tourism, their goals for the future are starting to change.

Ljubljana, where new hotels are popping up and old buildings in the city centre are being repurposed into accommodation facilities for rental on platforms such as Booking.com and AirBnB, has heard many complains from locals about the negative effects of tourism.

Bothered by the crowd and high prices, people have even started moving out of the city centre.

Ljubljana Tourism, the local tourism office, has taken notice and its vision for the future no longer speaks only of the city as a tourist destination but also of a city "with a high quality of living and a pleasant atmosphere for all its inhabitants, visitors and tourists".

It has also included questions about the negative effects of tourism in its regular surveys among the city's residents "because we believe visitors can only be happy here if the residents are happy."

Ljubljana will now be striving to "increase the added value of tourism, grow sustainably and offer high quality innovative products" to attract tourists in search of "green boutique destinations".

Even more far-reaching impacts of excessive tourism have also started to affect the lakeside resorts of Bled and Bohinj.

This summer, a press conference was called by the Environment Agency, the Triglav National Park, Turizem Bled and Turizem Bohinj to warn of excessive mass tourism and its effect on the quality of water in the lakes.

Since the 2016 tourism boom, the ecological status of Lake Bled - the status of water plants and animals - has deteriorated from good to moderate, the officials said. In Lake Bohinj too, analyses of microorganisms revealed a serious impact of swimmers on water quality.

Andrej Arih from the Triglav National Park said mountain lakes where swimming is not allowed were also affected by parking and camping in the area, while wild animals were being disturbed.

"We the tourism officials are aware of the value of our natural assets and we are becoming environmentalists ourselves," said Klemen Langus from Turizem Bohinj.

Both Bled and Bohinj are now restricting access to the lakes by car and introducing measures to improve the sewage system and waste collection.

Faced with the reality of a rapid tourism development, many other towns in Slovenia are staring to embrace the green concept of tourism as well, and are adjusting their services to attract high-end guests to slowly turn away from mass tourism.

As things stand, Slovenian tourism is in for another record year in terms of arrivals and nights by foreign tourists, although the pace is slowing down. Last year saw almost 6 million tourist arrivals and more than 15 million overnight stays.

A total of 5.2 million tourists were recorded in Slovenia in the first nine months, generating 13.2 million overnight stays, with the numbers going up 5.7% and 1.9%, respectively over the year before.

The number of foreign tourists was up by 7.1% and the number of overnight stays they generated by 3.5%.

30 Dec 2019, 11:44 AM

Feature: #Jaztudi Continues to Raise Awareness of Consent, Harassment & Sexual Violence in Slovenia

STA, 25 December 2019 - Almost two years after a feminist NGO launched #jaztudi, the Slovenian version of the #metoo campaign, the rate with which victims are sharing their stories has come to a steady trickle. Nevertheless, the campaign has left an indelible mark in society. Not only has it raised awareness about consent and inequality, it has spurred legislative change.

Nika Kovač, the president of March 8 Institute, which launched the campaign in March 2018, believes that the campaign broached broader issues of gender inequality. "I feel that addressing issues of gender inequality raised awareness [about inequality] in general."

A vital shift has taken place, Kovač said. "It has become clear that sexual violence and harassment are pervasive in our society, albeit often unseen," and the campaign created room to address sexual violence in a better and fairer way.

The testimonies reflect the normalisation of sexual harassment in society to the extent that victims feel like they are being overly sensitive for sharing their stories, says Kovač.

Many seem to downplay the severity of what they had suffered, as if sexual violence were normal, something not important enough to be raised to attention, although it was one of the most horrifying experiences of their lives.

In January 2018, the NGO launched a petition demanding a redefinition of rape in the penal code. The effort came as a response to a court case in which a man was acquitted of rape because the victim was asleep and unable to resist (with more details here).

More than 5,000 people signed the petition demanding that rape no longer be defined as a sexual act perpetrated by force but a sexual act perpetrated without consent.

"In response to the ruling ... the expert public, politicians and civil society joined forces in a wish to change unjust criminal legislation."

"The Ministry of Justice decided to redefine rape, I believe this is one of the biggest changes for the better made by the #jaztudi campaign," said Kovač.

Justice Minister Andreja Katič said at a debate on violence against women in late November that she wanted the penal code to change so as to penalise any sexual act without clear consent of both partners. The ministry is yet to present a draft of the legal changes.

Kovač said that the NGO was reserved about #metoo at first because of the sensationalism it caused in the US, where #metoo largely became a part of pop culture mainstream and failed to show different perspectives.

What is more, "in Slovenia, the [global] #metoo campaign did not trigger a spontaneous response it got in many countries around the world."

The March 8 Institute therefore decided to take a different approach and collect and post anonymous stories online, which are available at www.jaztudi.si. Victims can share their stories through the website, which also provides helpful links.

The response surpassed the NGO's expectations. It received more than 150 stories, and more are still coming in, albeit at a slower pace.

The stories collected show that sexual harassment often takes place in places that should be safe, like at home, at school, at the doctor's office.

Very often, the abusers are people close to the victim, people in position of power, coaches, teachers, superiors. "Testimonies also reveal that other people, who know what is happening, remain silent, dismissing or ignoring the problem."

Most of the victims who shared their stories were women, nine of them (6%) were men and one transsexual. 51.3% of the victims were abused as minors.

"The testimonies highlight the structure, the workings of a society that enables and reproduces sexual violence and harassment," said Kovač.

In the face of rising populism, members of the NGO have faced threats, but that comes with the territory, says Kovač, adding also that the campaign had not received negative press from mainstream media.

30 Dec 2019, 08:50 AM

Ljubljana Airport Sees Continued Growth in 2020, Despite Adria Bankruptcy

STA, 26 December 2019 - Although Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport has lost its biggest client, carrier Adria Airways, this year, operator Fraport Slovenia is confident that the business hub around the country's biggest airport will continue to grow in the coming years.

Two big cargo hubs opened this year, while Fraport Slovenija has launched the construction of a new passenger terminal, which is set to open before Slovenia's EU presidency in the second half of 2021.

The EUR 21 million investment follows years of passenger growth, with the total number of passengers exceeding 1.8 million last year. But shortly after construction started, Adria Airways went into receivership.

Slovenia's former flag carrier transported the bulk of its passengers through Ljubljana. But after the initial plunge in flights and passengers this autumn, other carriers have stepped in and restored most major routes.

"Traffic is picking up just as forecast. We are not building the terminal only because of passenger growth but also because we want to improve the standard and the quality of our service," Fraport Slovenija has said.

Apart from the new terminal, the operator is going forward with a host of other investments, worth a total of EUR 40 million. This includes utilities and roads in the growing Ljubljana Airport City, an area covering some 15 hectares.

"When you enter the airport, the first thing you notice is the growing Brnik Business District. TNT Express Worldwide, Cargo-partner and Kuehne + Nagel have already set up their own logistics hubs here," Fraport said.

UPS Adria (S) Ekspres is building a logistics facility as well, and Iskra Mehanizmi and SchäferRolls are building their facilities here, the operator added.

More than half of the plots are or will shortly be under long-term lease, while some of the bigger plots are still available, said Fraport.

It added that the fast-growing number of routes, following Adria Airways receivership, is restoring investor trust.

30 Dec 2019, 08:47 AM

Agrokor Files EU Complaint After Mercator Shares Seized by Govt.

STA, 27 December 2019 - Agrokor, the owner of retailer Mercator, has turned to the EU to complain about the seizure of Mercator stock by the Slovenian Competition Protection Agency which it says is motivated by "national political reasons".

In a letter to Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager and director general of the Commission's directorate general for competition Cecilio Madero Villarejo and the leaders of anti-trust authorities across the EU, Agrokor lays out the recent procedures involving Mercator stock, which it says are contrary to EU and Slovenian law.

The letter comes after the Slovenian anti-trust watchdog seized Agrokor's nearly 70% holding of Mercator shares because Agrokor broke the law by failing to notify the agency of the takeover of Slovenian water bottling company Costella three years ago.

Agrokor was initially fined EUR 54 million, but the agency later decided to seize the shares as a way to ensure that the fine is paid.

Agrokor claims the share seizure is "unconstitutional, arbitrary and illegal," and in the letter to the EU authorities Agrokor chairman Fabris Peruško says that the Slovenian government is using the Costella fine as an excuse to prevent Mercator stock from being transferred from the bankrupt Agrokor to the newly-established entity, Fortenova.

"The agency has exploited this fine as an excuse to seize 69.9% of Mercator... These procedures run contrary to Slovenian national law and practice, as well as EU law and constitute a violation of international law," he says.

30 Dec 2019, 08:44 AM

Sava Re Buys NLB Vita, All NLB’s Bailout Conditions Now Met

STA, 27 December 2019 - Bank NLB and Belgian KBC, NLB's former owner, have sold their life insurance company NLB Vita to the country's second biggest insurer Sava Re. The sale means that NLB has met the last of several conditions upon which the European Commission approved the 2013 bailout.

The cost of the deal, signed on Friday, has not been disclosed, but the business paper Finance recently reported that NLB and KBC expected to get between EUR 20 million and EUR 30 million.

Established by NLB and KBC in 2002, NLB Vita is the largest life insurance company in Slovenia, holding 14.8% of the market.

The sale is to be completed by the end of the first half of 2020, pending regulatory approval and suspensive conditions, said a press release issued by NLB and Sava Re.

"This will be the final step on our way to meeting all of the obligations imposed by the European Commission and a vital milestone, because we will be able to do business and show our full competitive potential," NLB chairman Blaž Brodnjak was cited as saying in the press release.

"We believe we have found the right strategic partner for NLB Vita, one to continue its story of success," Brodnjak said.

Sava Insurance Group chairman Marko Jazbec believes that the combination of knowledge and experience from KBC and NLB in NLB Vita provide a solid foundation for future development of a strong partnership with Sava in banking insurance.

He sees the acquisition as a key step for Sava to solidify its position in the life insurance market in Slovenia. "The share of life insurance premiums in terms of GDP is lower in Slovenia than in other, more developed European markets, therefore we see potential for development and organic growth for the future."

30 Dec 2019, 08:39 AM

Cross-Country Skiing: Lampič Wins in Lenzerheide (Video)

STA, 29 December 2019 - Slovenian cross-country skier Anamarija Lampič dominated the World Cup freestyle sprint event in Lenzerheide, Switzerland on Sunday, the second World Cup win in the 24-year-old's career.

Lampič beat the Norwegian Maiken Caspersen Falla by just 0.03 seconds, with the Russian Natalia Nepryaeva coming in third.

The Lenzerheide sprint was the second event of the Tour de Ski series, the highlight of the World Cup season, which ends on 5 February.

Lampič's only previous World Cup victory came in February 2017.

29 Dec 2019, 13:21 PM

New Year’s Eve in Ljubljana, 2019-20: From Live Music to Eco-Fireworks (Videos)

Christmas is gone, but the lights are still up and the next party is coming fast, with the New Year bringing people out onto the streets of the capital to enjoy the last good excuse for mass public drinking, feasting and revelry this decade.

Weather permitting, you can have a great time just walking around and following your interests, be they food, drink, music or dancing. With regard to free and organised events the action takes place at four of the city’s main squares, all within easy walking distance, if walking is easy for you.

Here you’ll find stages and varied performers, with different genres in different places, and all shows lasting from 21:00 to 02:30. Eco-friendly fireworks will also be launched from the Castle, made of paper and biodegradable materials, and you can see for yourself what the effect is at just after midnight, as the capital enters 2020 with a bang, fizz and crackle.

Fireworks from last year, with good weather and a good vibe on the streets

With regard to the four squares and their musical offerings:

Kongresni trg / Congress Square, the one with the University building and Philharmonia, is the largest venue and the one aimed at the broadest audience, with the line-up headed by Kingston and Luka Basi.

Trg francoske revolucije / French Revolution Square, the one by Križanke, once again offers up alt-rock, this time in the form of stoner, sludge and metal bands such as Omega Sun, Alo! Dude, Srd and Niet.

Mestni trg / Town Square, the one with the Town Hall and the (genuine fake) Robba Fountain will present a programme of evergreen classics to remind you of the past as you move into the future, with the Špicikuc Orchestra and Neisha preparing to delight the audience.

Pogačarjev trg / Central Market Square, the one that hosts Open Kitchen and at this time of year is lined with stalls selling seasonal items, food and drink, is always fairly lively, attracting a crowd that enjoys the simple pleasures of beer and sausage and more beer, maybe with some Jaeger and mulled wine for your health. It’s here that you’ll be able to enjoy a live programme of Slovenian and Oberkrainer music, with the sounds being provided by the Ceglar Ensemble, Fredi Miller and the band Come Back.

If these events don’t appeal then you can always head to Metelkova, where alternative arrangements are being made and the party won't end till dawn. Some details, in Slovene, here.

29 Dec 2019, 12:13 PM

Concert Pianist’s Tool Causes Bomb Scare, Closure at Croatian Border

STA, 27 December 2019 - The Obrežje border crossing with Croatia was closed for around an hour on Friday morning for a reported bomb threat as a suspicious device was found in the luggage of a bus passenger. The scare proved to be unwarranted as an inspection by bomb technicians showed that the device was harmless.

Initial police reports suggested that the vital border crossing was closed due to a security event, noting that no person was injured, while the 24ur news portal reported that Obrežje was closed due to a bomb threat.

The crossing between the Slovenian A2 motorway and the Croatian A3 motorway, located near the Croatian capital of Zagreb, was closed as a suspicious device was found in the luggage of a passenger entering Slovenia on-board a bus of the bus operator Flixbus.

The luggage with the suspicious device has been secured, and the man who had been carrying it had been restrained, the initial reports said.

However, inspection by bomb technicians of the special police unit showed that the device was harmless and the 32-year-old Russian citizen has been released. The border crossing and the motorway have reopened for traffic, the Novo Mesto Police Department said.

According to Robert Perc, the head of the department's operative and communications centre, the item has been identified as a piano tuner with a charging device.

The police explained that an x-ray check of the luggage detected an electronic device with a charger whose features and shape had raised suspicion that it could be an explosive device with an ignition mechanism.

The x-ray shot was analysed and it was confirmed that the device is suspicious. The owner was detained and the remaining bus passengers, passengers at the border crossings and police and Financial Administration officers located there were secured.

The border crossing was evacuated, and traffic was restricted and closed for civilians. Cars and buses were rerouted to the nearby border crossings of Slovenska Vas and Rigonce, and cargo traffic was diverted to the Metlika border crossing, some 35 kilometres south-west.

The detained person turned out to be award-winning concert pianist Andrey Gugnin, who graduated from the Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory in 2010.

The device in question. Source: Andrey Gugnin's Facebook

Following the incident, Gugnin urged his colleague musicians on his Facebook page to always carry these pedals in carry-on bags to avoid such unpleasant incidents.

"The police held me for over two hours in handcuffs, hands behind my back, explaining nothing," he wrote, adding that when the situation was cleared, "they apologised, brought me coffee, and were very friendly".

The 32-year-old Russian also conceded that in their position, he would have come to the same conclusion since the pedal's parts do resemble detonators, batteries and SIM cards.

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