19 Oct 2019, 08:54 AM

What Mladina & Demokracija Are Saying This Week: Corruption Unpunished vs Political Bias at Constitutional Court

The covers and editorials from leading weeklies of the Left and Right for the work-week ending Friday, 18 October, 2019

Mladina: Puzzled by inaction in corruption cases

STA, 18 October 2019 – Mladina, the left-wing weekly, takes a look at several cases of alleged corruption and wrongdoing, wondering how it is possible that none of the involved politicians has been found guilty, while an ordinary citizen would definitely be punished or at leased fined for similar crimes.

The weekly's editor-in-chief Grega Repovž lists on Friday a number of cases related to Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Jankovič, SDS leader Janez Janša, former Maribor Mayor Franc Kangler and former Koper Mayor Boris Popovič after TV Slovenija has recently run a story about Janković's old suspicious cases.

"Entire Slovenia has been witnessing these developments for years, and we all have a clear picture of things. We are also all aware that the destiny of an average Joe would have been sealed long ago, either with a prison sentence or at least a fine."

Repovž wonders why nothing has happened in these cases. Is it because of judges, are there too few of them and are they busy with other trivial cases, is it how the courts are organised, are there two few specialised prosecutors and experts on corporate crime, corruption and political corruption, do judges and prosecutors lack proper training.

Is it the fact that the professions of judge and prosecutor are ever less prestigious, or is it poorly written and dated legislation, the magazine wonders.

Meanwhile, the defendants are usually well off and can afford the best of lawyers and advisers who can dedicate hours and hours to their case, whereas for a prosecutor or a judge, this is just one in hundred cases and court hearings. Mladina also points a finger at the Constitutional Court for having annulled, to the benefit of the defendants, any attempt to tighten up legislation.

"This is all true and remains the basic challenge for Slovenian society, in which it is increasingly hard to believe. But for a society to be fully functioning, people have to believe in it," says Repovž.

He wonders how people should decide in such cases - along political lines or personal alliances. "Should people turn a blind eye to Janković because he is allegedly a good mayor or simply because he is at the helm of Ljubljana, because having an SDS mayor would make everything automatically worse?"

Repovž also wonders in his editorial headlined First-Rate what one should think when no other than Janša and Kangler attack Janković in a rally in the centre of Ljubljana saying he gets a preferential treatment by courts "because he is a first-rate citizen".

Demokracija: Reputation of Slovenia's top court compromised

STA, 17 October 2019 - The right-leaning weekly Demokracija argues in the latest commentary that constitutional judge Matej Accetto should step down because he undermined the court's reputation and authority after it transpired that he failed to disqualify himself for decision-making despite his ties with the Modern Centre Party (SMC).

Under the headline the Case of Judge Matej Accetto, editor in-chief Jože Biščak writes that the e-mails released this week prove that Accetto made extensive proposals and opinions in the creation of the SMC's platform in 2014 and acted as a "tacit supporter" for the party of Miro Cerar.

Biščak notes that Accetto has been involved in decision-making on two political cases, the 2017 referendum on the Koper-Divača rail track and the foreigners act, both of which had to do with what was the ruling party in the previous term.

The Constitutional Court rejected a request for the judge's recusal at least two times, satisfied with his explanation that he was not involved in the work on the SMC platform.

Biščak notes the Constitutional Court's key role for the country's rule of law, freedom and democracy, saying that the public's trust in its rulings depends on the judges' ethical conduct, and its belief that the judges are unbiased, independent and fair.

"Judge Matej Accetto trampled all that, he tarnished the reputation of the Constitutional Court. No one would take a grudge against him if he had recused himself in the mentioned (political cases). He would have demonstrated the high standards he abided by himself and could have expected the same from his colleagues.

"As it is, he lied not only to fellow judges but also to parties in procedure and the entire public. Now that it has all come to light he should resign. Irrevocably ... His is not just a case of likely bias but of political and ideological bias par excellence."

All our posts in this series are here

19 Oct 2019, 01:33 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Saturday, 19 October 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:

Šarec says EU's credibility shaken after no to N Macedonia, Albania

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Commenting on the EU summit's failure to greenlight the launch of accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania, Prime Minister Marjan Šarec said that an opportunity had been missed, that the damage was done now and that the EU's credibility in the region was shaken. There will be problems in the future, because these countries will no longer trust the EU and it is uncertain whether we will manage to put them on the European path, Šarec said in Brussels.

Slovenia wants Croatia Schengen decision taken by next Commission

LJUBLJANA - Six Slovenian MEPs urged for the decision on Croatia's readiness to join the Schengen zone to be taken by Ursula von der Leyen's European Commission, arguing that such a strategic decision should not be taken by an outgoing Commission. In the appeal addressed to von der Leyen, Jean-Claude Juncker, and current and next president of the European Council, all Slovenian MPs, bar the pair from the ranks of the opposition Democrats (SDS), say it would be completely incomprehensible if a decision with long-term and strategic consequences for the EU was to be taken by Junker's Commission. This view was also expressed in the evening by Prime Minister Marjan Šarec.

Views on budget divided on Finance Committee but no amendments adopted

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Finance Committee discussed as the final among the committees the budget documents for 2020 and 2021. While views were divided along the coalition-opposition divide - the opposiiton does not agree the record high budgets are development-oriented - no amendments were adopted. The National Assembly is expected to vote on the budget documents in November.

Cerar discusses EU and Mediterranean issues in Cyprus

NICOSIA, Cyprus - Foreign Minister Miro Cerar met his Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides as part of an official visit to Cyprus for a exchange of views on topical developments in the EU, Mediterranean and the Middle East. Cerar also discussed the topics with Parliament Speaker Demetris Syllouris. Cerar called Cyprus a valuable partner and called for close cooperation in the time leading up to Slovenia's presidency of the EU in 2021. Cerar was accompanied on the two-day visit by a business delegation.

Committee established in support of Catalan leaders

LJUBLJANA - A committee in support of Catalan leaders held its maiden session in Ljubljana to protest against the lengthy prison sentences handed out to the nine independence leaders as well as against the EU institutions' silence on the issue. The committee was set up at the initiative of former President Milan Kučan, philosopher and sociologist Spomenka Hribar, Ljubljana Faculty of Arts professor Rudi Rizman and former Foreign Minister Ivo Vajgl. It currently numbers more than 40 members.

SOVA boss defends hiring at intel agency

LJUBLJANA - SOVA director Rajko Kozmelj argued there was nothing amiss in the hiring of a female acquaintance of PM Marjan Šarec by the intelligence agency in an interview with the weekly Mladina. He said the person in question had not been employed through a public call for applications because "the hiring had been made before we introduced new rules". He denied having spoken to Šarec or his aide about the employment beforehand. He also called for greater powers for SOVA in addition to better oversight.

Army chief abandons prosecution of fmr force commander

LJUBLJANA - The chief of staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces, Major General Alenka Ermenc, withdrew her proposal for the prosecution of Brigadier General Miha Škerbinc whom she had dismissed as the army's force commander in April. While Ermenc had reported Škerbinc to the military police on 17 May this year with the claim his commenting of her health had harmed her reputation, the Defence Ministry now announced Ermenc had changed her mind on 10 September.

Slovenian officials attend IMF and World Bank meetings

WASHINGTON, US - Central bank Governor Boštjan Vasle and Finance Ministry State Secretary Metod Dragonja are in Washington for the main part of the annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The meetings will be culminating with a session of the International Monetary and Financial Committee of the IMF and the joint World Bank-IMF Development Committee. The Slovenian delegation will also be holding meetings with IMF and World Bank officials.

Committee hears drawing of EU funds has improved

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary EU Affairs Committee debated a quarterly report on Slovenia's drawing of EU funds in 2014-2020, noting progress in several areas. "The drawing is not ideal yet, but has improved considerably. With the three most productive months ahead, we expect it to further significantly improve by the end of the year," said Nevenka Ribič of the Government Office for Development and Cohesion Policy. By the end of August 2019, decisions had been issued for 82% of all EU funds available.

Ex-minister loses privacy lawsuit against ant-graft watchdog

LJUBLJANA - Ex-Education Minister Stanka Setnikar Cankar lost a EUR 31,000 damages suit against the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption for making public her earnings as a Public Administration Faculty professor, which cost her her ministerial job in 2015. The Ljubljana District Court rejected her claim even though the Supreme Court found in 2017 that the commission violated her constitutional right to personal data protection by releasing the data without having legal grounds to do so.

Slovenia joins anti-human trafficking campaign

LJUBLJANA - On the eve of EU Anti-Trafficking Day, 18 October, the European Crime Prevention Network and 24 European countries, including Slovenia, launched a prevention campaign. The Slovenian government also appointed a task force to combat human trafficking on Thursday to compile periodic action plans and monitor their implementation. The government also adopted the first report on the implementation of the Istanbul Convention against violence against women and domestic violence, finding major progress.

Sawn-off hand case sees its day in court

LJUBLJANA - Pre-trial hearings were held at the Ljubljana District Court in an insurance fraud scheme case in which a young woman cut off her hand at the beginning of the year to claim insurance. Two suspects pleaded not guilty, one was absent, while the hearing for Julija Adlešič, the 21-year-old who cut off her hand, was suspended for procedural reasons. Her 29-year-old partner Sebastien Abramov, who allegedly put her up to it, pleaded not guilty. They are both in custody.

Poet Simon Jenko remembered 150 years after death

KRANJ - Marking the 150th anniversary of the death of poet Simon Jenko, the city of Kranj is hosting Jenko's Days, a festival during which the Slovenian Writers' Association will give out the Jenko Prize for best poetry collection in the past two years. Jenko (1835-1869) wrote love, reflective and patriotic poems, excelling particularly at tender and bitter love poems and at reflective lyrical poetry. Living in Vienna, he wrote Obrazi (Faces), a series of poems inspired by Heine's sentimental lyrical poems.

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

18 Oct 2019, 17:57 PM

October 18 in Slovenian History: The First Cast-Iron Bridge in Ljubljana

In 1867 the first cast-iron Bridge was opened in the city of Ljubljana.

In middle ages only two bridges were connecting the banks of the Ljubljanica river: the Old Bridge (later called the Lower Bridge), which was standing in place of today’s Triple Bridge, and the Butcher's or Upper Bridge (Mesarski most, Zgornji most) in place of today's Cobbler's Bridge.

The Butcher’s Bridge, named after butchers stalls that were located on it, was pulled down at the beginning of the 17th century and in 1614 a new bridge was built in its place. The new bridge was equipped with little shacks that were mostly rented by cobblers, hence the bridge got a new name, the Cobblers Bridge (Čevljarski or Šuštarski most).

In the second half of the 19^th Century the old Cobbler's Bridge had to be replaced for safety reasons with a stronger one. This was the first cast-iron bridge in Ljubljana and it soon became one of the most interesting technological solutions of the time. It was built of triangular elements cast in Dvor foundry in Žužemberk, which were then joined by screws at the construction site. The bridge was named after the then mayor, Janez Nepomuk Hradeczky, and called Hradecky Bridge (Hradetskega most).

Hradecky Bridge stood there until the beginning of the 1930s, when the architect Jože Plečnik designed a wider and more monumental bridge as part of his Ljubljanica riverbanks renovation plan.Plečnik’s new bridge is called Cobblers Bridge.

The old Hradecky Bridge was moved to nearby a morgue by Zaloška Street and so renamed the Mortuary Bridge (Mrtvaški most).

In 2011 the cast iron bridge got its new location in Trnovo, where it connects Žabjak (by Pizzeria Trta) and Krakovo, and is called Hradecky Bridge again.

Hradecky Bridge at Trnovo since 2011, Photo: Modridirkač, Wikimedia Commons

18 Oct 2019, 14:54 PM

Slovenian MEPs: Croatia's Schengen Entry Should Be Decided by New Commission

STA, 18 October 2019 - Slovenia's MEPs have urged leaving the decision on Croatia's readiness to join the Schengen zone to Ursula von der Leyen's European Commission, arguing that such a strategic decision should not be taken by an outgoing Commission.

Ljudmila Novak (EPP), Franc Bogovič (EPP), Irena Joveva (RE), Klemen Grošelj (RE), Tanja Fajon (S&D) and Milan Brglez (S&D) say in their call it would be completely incomprehensible and hard to accept if a decision with long-term and strategic consequences for the EU was to be made by Jean-Claude Juncker's Commission, whose term runs out soon.

The Slovenian MEPs also believe the decision should be taken based on an objective expert assessment of whether Croatia meets all the technical and security conditions.

The Commission must also make sure there is absolutely no doubt the assessment of Croatia's ability to protect the Schengen border is not based on political reasons.

Aware of the advantages of Croatia's joining the passport-free zone for Slovenia and the EU, the six out of Slovenia's eight MEPs say its entry is "in our common interest", but must not pose a security threat to the EU.

The MEPs say there are very serious doubts about Croatia being technically and legally fit to protect the EU's external border.

What is more, there are very serious doubts about its compliance with EU standards, foremost in respecting and implementing treaties and court decisions.

The MEPs are also "deeply worried about statements coming from some media outlets and Croatian government officials which bring up serious questions about their privileged access to information and a serious doubt about relevant procedures being transparent, independent and based on expertise".

The appeal was addressed to Juncker and von der Leyen, to European Council President Donald Tusk and his successor Charles Michel as well as to Slovenian Prime Minister Marjan Šarec.

The Commission is expected to discuss Croatia's meeting the technical conditions to join the Schengen zone on Tuesday.

The appeal to the top EU officials was not signed by the two European People's Party (EPP) MEPs from the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS).

Novak said that Romana Tomc and Milan Zver had not explained why they would not join the appeal. "We were only told they had decided not so sign it."

However, Tomc later took to Twitter, saying she agreed that Croatia's Schengen entry was in Slovenia's interest and that Croatia must meet all the conditions before joining the zone.

But she also believes that the answer to this very sensitive political question should be sought at the highest diplomatic level.

18 Oct 2019, 14:19 PM

Record Number of HFRS Cases in Slovenia

STA, 17 October 2019 - The government said on Thursday in response to a question raised by Left MP Franc Trček that 231 cases of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS - Wikipedia) had been recorded so far this year, a record since monitoring started in 1983.

The figure stands out markedly, with the last outbreaks in 2008, 2012, and 2017 seeing 45, 185 and 76 cases respectively.

The Medical Faculty's microbiology and immunology institute conducts limited scope oversight of the disease's transmitters, meaning rodents, twice a year for research purposes. The monitoring is funded by the National Research Agency.

The government said it would back the introduction of continuous monitoring in case the relevant ministries received professionally-backed and financially sound proposals that would "prove this measure cost effective".

Outbreaks occur in cycles of three to five years. The reasons that cause an outbreak are not entirely clear. The Health Ministry said climate change, brining higher average temperatures and more precipitation and milder winters with less snow, is definitely among the reasons.

The HFRS fatality rate in Slovenia is fairly low, standing at 5-15%. Fifteen deaths have been recorded over the past 35 years, none in recent years.

No vaccination exists so far for three viruses causing the disease, whose initial symptoms include intense headaches, back and abdominal pain, fever, chills, nausea, and blurred vision.

The National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) explained in Augusts that Slovenia was one of the most at-risk areas for HFRS because it is endemic to three hantaviruses causing the disease: the Puumala virus, the Dobrava virus and the Dobrava-Kurkino virus.

The disease has an incubation period of two to four weeks. A person gets infected when breathing in viruses that are excreted by rodents carrying the virus.

When cleaning out spaces that might be infected by rodents, one should air the rooms thoroughly, after which the surfaces should be sprayed with a 10% chlorine solution and left for 10-30 minutes. To prevent infection, the cleaner should also wear a protective mask and gloves.

18 Oct 2019, 12:17 PM

“Hiša Franko In Residence” in Madrid, 19 Nov to 7 Dec, 2019, Closed in Kobarid 18 Nov to 3 Dec

Few people have done more to put Slovenia on the map of global gastronomy than Ana Roš, the Kobarid-based chef who seemed to come out of nowhere and win the title of Best Female Chef in the World in 2017, and her restaurant, Hiša Franko, a regular place on the list of the World's 50 Best Restaurants (this year at #38).

However, next month visitors to Slovenia will be unable to sample the work of Roš and her team, as the restaurant will be closed between 18 November and 3 December 2019, opening again on the 4^th. This is because the whole crew will be leaving the Soča Valley to serve a pop-up version of Hiša Franko in Madrid. More specifically, from 19 November to 7 December 2019, a taste of Slovenian fine dining can be found at the NH Eurobuilding Hotel in Madrid.

This is part of the In Residence project, organised by Mateo & Co, that brings top chefs, their staff and equipment to the Spanish capital, and has already seen the participation of names such as Grant Achatz, Juan Manuel Barrientos, Harry Sasson, Leonor Espinosa, Jorge and Mark Rausch, Nacho Manzano, and Mauro Colagreco.

More details of the Madrid adventure, and bookings, can be found here, while Hiša Franko’s regular webpage is here

18 Oct 2019, 11:13 AM

Slovenian PM Welcomes Brexit Deal, Hopes UK Parliament Approves

STA, 17 October 2019 - Slovenian Prime Minister Marjan Šarec welcomed the deal on an orderly Brexit reached on Thursday by the EU and British negotiators and expressed hope that the deal will get support in the UK, as "time is really running out".

Šarec said he was happy with the deal as he spoke to the press on the sidelines of the two-day European Council meeting, which also discusses relations with Turkey, EU long-term budget and priorities for the next five years.

Asked whether Brexit would happen on 31 October, Šarec said that the EU leaders would first need to get acquainted with the report from the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier and to see what the sentiment was.

The Slovenian prime minister hopes that "this agreement, which is certainly a better result than no deal at all," would not be rejected by Britain as it is one of the last, if not the last options.

According to Šarec, everything depends now on the British parliament and the European Parliament, while the EU leaders also need to get acquainted with the deal in the first place.

He personally believes that Barnier has reached a good deal as a good and experienced negotiator.

Šarec was also asked about the media reports on the alleged request by British PM Boris Johnson that the EU leaders exclude the possibility of a new postponement of Brexit and effectively help him push the deal through parliament.

He said that he and his EU counterparts needed to get acquainted with details first and that the opinion of Ireland and the European Commission was important.

Šarec criticised the entire process of looking for a Brexit deal, which he believes does not contribute to the reputation of the EU and the United Kingdom.

"Three years have passed, with more important topics being pushed aside," he lamented, adding that "everybody would like to see a solution. If we are not capable of making this happen, let them stay."

The deal was first announced by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and later presented at a press conference by Barnier, who said that an orderly Brexit could be implemented by the end of the month.

The key difference compared to the agreement with the former British PM Theresa May is the elimination of the disputable Irish backstop, which would be replaced with a new approach.

Prime Minister Johnson has called on the British MPs to back the deal. The British parliament decided today in a narrow vote to hold an extraordinary session on Saturday to discuss the deal.

18 Oct 2019, 09:09 AM

Fall in Illegal Migration Recorded in September

STA, 16 October 2019 - The Slovenian police recorded a drop in illegal migration in September, however the number of illegal border crossings in the first nine months of the year is still 70.5% above last year's figure.

Since the beginning of the year, police handled 11,786 cases of people crossing into the country illegally, which compares to 6,911 in the first nine months of last year.

More than 3,000 of them were from Pakistan, with roughly 1,600 from Algeria and 1,300 from Afghanistan, data from the police show.

The number of migrants seeking asylum has been increasing as well. As many as 3,856 asked for international protection in the eight months to the end of August, which is more than in the whole 2018.

After being accommodated in asylum centres, the migrants often continue on their way to their chosen destination countries. Most of those are citizens of Algeria.

The number of third-country citizens turned away at the border rose by almost 14% year-on-year to 3,397 in the first nine months of the year. Most of these were denied entry at the border with Croatia.

Slovenia returned a total of 8,050 illegal migrants to foreign law enforcement authorities in the first nine months of the year, most of them (7,956) to Croatia.

In the same period, 491 were returned to Slovenian authorities, most of them (213) by Italy. In the same period last year 436 migrants were returned to Slovenia.

18 Oct 2019, 01:31 AM

Morning Headlines for Slovenia: Friday, 18 October 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:

Šarec welcomes Brexit deal, urges start of accession talks for N Macedonia

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Arriving for a two-day EU summit, Prime Minister Marjan Šarec welcomed the deal on an orderly Brexit reached by EU and British negotiators and expressed the hope that the deal would get support in the UK, as "time is really running out". Šarec said he was happy with the deal. He warned that unless EU leaders gave North Macedonia the go-ahead to start EU accession talks, the situation there would get unpredictable. He said a positive decision was being legitimately expected in Skopje.

Two proposals for electoral reform on govt table

LJUBLJANA - The government got acquainted with two draft proposals for electoral reform after the current system was declared unconstitutional a year ago. Now it is up to the parliamentary parties to state their opinion, said Public Administration Minister Rudi Medved. Under one proposal, electoral units would remain roughly the same, while electoral districts would be scrapped, so parties would run with 11 candidates in each electoral unit, and voters would have the option of a relative preferential vote. The other solution envisages changing the borders of electoral districts in line with the decision of the Constitutional Court to have approximately the same number of voters in every district.

Tax bills finalised

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Finance Committee finalised a package of tax bills that slightly reduce the taxation of labour in favour of higher taxes on capital, after adopting last-minute amendments to counter criticism that the legislation amounted to a generous handout to the rich Wednesday evening. Under the legislative package slated for passage at the National Assembly plenary next week, the thresholds for all five brackets will be slightly increased and the general tax credit will rise. In the second and third tax brackets, which cover mostly the middle class, the tax rate will drop by a percentage point. Those on the minimum wage will see their earnings rise only marginally, while those on average pay can expect roughly EUR 150 more per year.

MPs point to lengthy court proceedings and number of unclosed cases

LJUBLJANA - The Justice Committee discussed a report on courts' efficiency in 2018, mostly agreeing with the assessment by the Supreme Court president that courts were successful. The MPs were meanwhile critical of lengthy court proceedings and the number of unsolved cases, with the latter affecting courts' reputation. Presenting the report, Supreme Court President Damijan Florjančič said courts managed the inflow of new cases and continued to reduce the backlog.

Chemistry Institute inaugurates new NMR spectrometer

LJUBLJANA - The Chemistry Institute and the National Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Centre inaugurated a new 600 MHz NMR spectrometer. The inauguration ceremony was attended by representatives of the Japanese and US embassies to Slovenia, including Japanese Ambassador Masaharu Yoshida. The funds for the EUR 1 million investment have been secured through the centre's commercial projects. Its economic partners and co-founders are pharma companies Krka and Lek as well as coatings group Helios.

Foundation stone laid for first Ikea shop in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA - The construction of the long-awaited first Ikea shop in Slovenia officially started as the foundation stone was laid in the BTC shopping district in Ljubljana. The 31,000 square metre shop, which is expected to employ around 300 people, is to be completed in a year's time. The ceremony was attended by Ikea South East Europe CEO Sara Del Fabbro, who said that the company was looking forward to the opportunity to cooperate with Slovenian suppliers and local communities.

Govt strikes jackal from protected wild animal list

LJUBLJANA - With the population of the jackal in Slovenia stabilising, the government struck the species from the decree on protected wild animal species, setting a transitional period until 1 May 2020 for the relevant rules to be adjusted. The population of the jackal in the country will now be sustainably managed under the legislation governing hunting. The EU law does not require strict protection of the jackal, and expert studies have shown there are no reasons to protect the animal in the national legislation.

Slovenia seeing record number of HFRS cases

LJUBLJANA - More than 230 cases of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) have been recorded in Slovenia so far this year, a record since monitoring started in 1983, according to the government's response to a question raised by Left MP Franc Trček. The figure stands out markedly, with the last outbreaks in 2008, 2012, and 2017 seeing 45, 185 and 76 cases respectively. The government said it would back the introduction of continuous monitoring in case the relevant ministries received professionally-backed and financially sound proposals that would "prove this measure cost effective".

Speculum Artium brings insight into virtual consciousness

TRBOVLJE - The Speculum Artium festival of new media art opened, offering a number of art projects and lectures which deal with virtual consciousness. The three-day festival will showcase Tree, an award-winning virtual reality experience of US-based Serbian artist Milica Zec and designer Winslow Porter which traces a tree's growth from the seed to a full-grown plant, and Digital Shaman, a collaboration of Japanese artist Etsuko Ichihara, company Yaskawa Slovenija and Ljubljana's Jožef Stefan Institute which explores new forms of mourning for the deceased in a digital era.

Ljubljana Marathon aiming for new women's record

LJUBLJANA - After posting a new record in men's category last year, Ljubljana Marathon will now strive for a record in the women's category. The most popular running event in Slovenia will be held on 27 October, with several thousand runners expected to hit the streets of the capital. The organisers are hoping not just to set the women's record below 2:22:00, but also to turn around the dwindling numbers of participants by introducing new sign-up policies and organisational strategies taking into account global trends.

Gymnastics great Cerar celebrates 80th birthday

LJUBLJANA - Former gymnastics great Miroslav Cerar, who will turn 80 at the end of October, is still active in sport, having recently been appointed the head of the Slovenian team for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. An exhibition on his achievements is on display at Ljubljana Town Hall. Cerar describes his successes as a piece in the Slovenian sports mosaic. He speaks bout Slovenian athletic achievements in superlatives, saying they are the most effective promotion of the country possible.

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

17 Oct 2019, 20:55 PM

Ten Things I Learned about Slovenia While Researching “Tito’s Lost Children”

As an author living in Ljubljana, much of my work is inspired by Slovenia and the region. Most recently I was inspired to write an alternate history of the breakup of Yugoslavia, which asks the question: What if Marshal Tito had named a totally untrained and untested successor? The first book centers on Slovenia and its war of independence. Here are ten interesting things that I learned, or discovered more about, while doing research for Tito’s Lost Children: War One Slovenia.

1. If you live in Ljubljana, Marshal Josip Broz Tito died in the hospital you probably go to.

Josip Broz Tito died at the University Clinical Center in Ljubljana on Njegoševa cesta. In 1980 it was one of the newest and most advanced medical centers in Yugoslavia, so he chose to travel to Ljubljana for treatment. The procession that took his body back to Belgrade on his famous Blue Train started from the Slovenian Parliament and what is today called Republic Square. A bit over ten years later this was the same location where Slovenian independence was declared.

In the Tito’s Lost Children trilogy, eleven years after his death, Tito’s fictional successor is tasked with stopping the breakup of Yugoslavia, avoiding capture by Serbian nationalists and preventing a wider war and ethnic cleansing in the Balkans.

2. The rest of the former Yugoslavia has stereotypes that Slovenes are cheap, that Slovene girls are ‘easy,’ and that Slovene men are wimpy.

In the rest of the former Yugoslavia, ‘going Dutch’ is apparently referred to as ‘being Slovene.’ Despite – or possibly because of --the fact that Slovenia was the wealthiest member republic of the former Yugoslavia, Slovenes have a reputation as the misers of the region. In my experience the Slovenian attitude toward money seems to be more of an overt concern with good accounting. Be sure you keep the receipt for that one piece of burek you just bought!

There is also a stereotype that Slovene girls are ‘easy’, possibly because most interactions between Slovenes and people from other Yugoslav nationalities took place on ‘spring break’ style vacations in Croatia. As a single guy living here, I must report that I don’t have much evidence that this stereotype is true.

Perhaps related to the above, there is also a perception in the Balkans that Slovene men are wimpy. However, Slovenes are quick to point out that this is not the case and that brash behavior is simply frowned upon more here than it is in the rest of the former Yugoslavia.

In Tito’s Lost Children, the main characters meet Slovenes who seem to fulfill these stereotypes, only to turn out to be slightly misunderstood once we actually get to know them.

3. Slovenia declared independence one day before they announced that they would.

88.5% of Slovenians voted for independence in a referendum held on December 23^rd 1991, which gave the government six months to implement the decision. The government took almost the entire six months to prepare for the independence and a probable conflict with the Yugoslav People’s Army. However, independence was declared one day early, before the waiting period expired, in order to catch the People’s Army off guard. This surprise move possibly made Slovenian victory easier. It also plays a role in Tito’s Lost Children.

4. Slovenska Cesta used to be named Tito Street.

It seems almost obvious once you know that ‘Tito Street,’ one of the main roads in the center of Ljubljana, was renamed ‘Slovenian Street’ upon independence. The names also changed for a lot of other landmark places in the center of the city. These include: Revolution Square, present day Republic Square, and Liberation Square, which is today’s Congress Square.

Wikimedia Josip in Jovanka Broz v hotelu Slon bereta Delo 1969 public domain 1453px-Josip_in_Jovanka_Broz_v_hotelu_Slon_bereta_Delo_1969.jpg

Tito and Jovanka reading Delo in Hotel Slon, on Tito Street, in 1969. Wikimedia

5. The present day prison hostel in Metelkova was where Janez Janša, an activist in the 1980’s, was imprisoned.

One of Ljubljana’s alternative culture hubs, now known as Metelkova for the street that it fronts on, has a prison that has been converted into a hostel. During the late 1980’s Metelkova was a barracks for the Yugoslav People’s Army, which got abandoned after the Slovenian war of independence. The prison hostel in it was once a very real military jail where politician Janez Janša was imprisoned after leaking classified People’s Army documents to Mladina, a magazine that, at the time, was officially the communist party’s youth magazine. I describe Metelkova as a functioning barracks toward the end of Tito’s Lost Children Book One and in the beginning of Book Two: Croatia.

The prison in Metelkova before the area became a squat. Source: Hostel Celica. Below, the place now. Source: JL Flanner

hostel celica jl flanner.JPG

6. Technically speaking, Slovenia declared war on Yugoslavia, not the other way around.

When you hear about the Ten-Day-War, it often sounds as if the scrappy Slovene defense forces went up against the overwhelmingly superior aggressor of the Yugoslav People’s Army and won. This is true; a People’s Army soldier fired the first actual shots in the war. However, the order to retaliate, should the People’s Army resist Slovenia’s independence, was given before those shots were fired. This means that, technically, Slovenia did not only win the war, it was the first to declare the war in the first place.

7. No one can agree on who gave the order for the Slovene Territorial Defense forces to engage the Yugoslav People’s Army.

To this day, both then-President Milan Kučan and Janez Janša, who was defense minister at the time, claim to have been the one to give the order for the Slovenian forces to fire at the People’s Army. This means no one really knows who gave the actual order to start the war. Spoiler Alert: in Tito’s Lost Children, this is because my main character gives the order and both Kučan and Janša have to cover up her existence!

8. After World War Two a large group of fighters was killed or forced into exile.

Walking around Ljubljana, you will doubtless notice the large number of plaques dedicated to the partisan fighters who fell fighting the fascists during the Second World War. However, there was also another group of soldiers that didn’t get plaques -- to put it mildly.

The Domobranci (Home Defenders) were composed of people who did not support the partisans and the Italians allowed them to band together to defend their homes. Eventually, the Nazis forced them into fighting on their side. Nevertheless, they were branded as traitors after the partisans’ victory and were either forced to flee, sent to ‘reeducation’ camps or shot in mass killing fields. Knowledge of this was largely suppressed during the Yugoslav times. Nowadays, when you hear Slovenes speak of the ‘complicated World War Two history,’ this is what they are talking about.

One of my characters in Tito’s Lost Children is a descendant of a Domobranec. She has to deal with the political fallout of this history and was inspired by one of my real ancestors, who I discovered while doing research for the books could possibly have been a Domobranci sympathizer.

9. There was a whole class of people who had their rights as citizens erased when Slovenia became independent.

After Slovenia declared independence in 1991 it erased many non-Slovene Yugoslav nationals living in Slovenia from its list of citizens. This functionally made them non-persons in Slovene society. The issue has not been addressed until relatively recently. Milan Aksentijević, one of the senior officers of the Yugoslav People’s Army in Slovenia, had this happen to him, even though he had lived in Slovenia for years and was married to a Slovene. Something similar happens to a fictional general in my books.

10. Mt. Triglav looks absolutely nothing like it does on the flag.

The climax of Tito’s Lost Children Book One takes place on the summit of Mount Triglav. While doing research for the books I ran across a number of pictures of the mountain and was quite hard pressed to find where the three peaks were. I guess they go in kind of a curve?

At one point, I resolved to finally climb Triglav as research for the books. My mountaineer friend just laughed and suggested that a ‘city rat’ like me should start with Šmarna Gora, a hill on the outskirts of Ljubljana, instead. I had to settle for watching YouTube videos about climbing Slovenia’s highest peak.

Tito’s Lost Children War One: Slovenia is available here.

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