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Former Ljubljana Archbishop Alojz Uran has died

LJUBLJANA - Alojz Uran, who served as the Archbishop of Ljubljana in 2004-2009, has died at the age of 75, the Slovenian Bishops' Conference announced. Uran was named the Archbishop of Ljubljana in October 2004, succeeding Archbishop Franc Rode, and resigned in November 2009, officially due to health problems, to be succeeded by Anton Stres. It became public only later that Uran was instructed by the Holy See to withdraw from public life. Under a decree from the Congregation for Bishops in Rome, he left Slovenia to live and work in Trieste and returned to the home country in 2015. Prime Minister Janez Janša and President Borut Pahor expressed condolences to Ljubljana Archbishop Stanislav Zore and the Slovenian Bishops' Conference.

Five new Covid-19 deaths confirmed, death toll up to 50

LJUBLJANA - Another five Covid-19 patients died on Friday to bring the death toll related to the coronavirus epidemic to 50. Another 1,232 tests were performed yesterday and 28 new infections confirmed, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 1,188, show the latest government figures. A total of 94 Covid-19 patients were in Slovenian hospitals yesterday, 12 fewer than on Thursday. The number of patients who require intensive care was meanwhile up by one to 37. A total of 11 persons were released from hospital care on Friday, bringing the overall number to 148.

Report: EUR 900m in aid available in second stimulus package

BRDO PRI KRANJU/LJUBLJANA - The government met to discuss guidelines for additional measures to mitigate the effect of the coronavirus epidemic on the economy, with PM Janez Janša announcing that the government had been acquainted with relevant reports and decided to put all measures for securing liquidity of the economy into one package. The measures will start to be prepared after Easter holidays, and the government will be able to discuss it together with amendments to the first package on 20 or 21 April. The public broadcaster TV Slovenija reported on Friday that the package would include EUR 900 million in loans and loan guarantees provided by the SID Banka bank, the Slovenian Enterprise Fund and the Regional Development Fund.

Persons entering Slovenia to be quarantined for a week as of Sunday

LJUBLJANA - Persons entering Slovenia as of Sunday will be subjected to a week-long quarantine at home or at a location agreed with the civil defence, and then tested for the new coronavirus, says a government decree which shortens such quarantine from two weeks. If a person declines to be tested after a seven-day quarantine or if test cannot be performed, the quarantine will be automatically extended for a week. Foreigners who are coming to Slovenia to work will be ordered quarantine at the address stated by the employer, which they will need to prove at the border. Exempt from the measure are cross-border daily and weekly migrant workers and drivers of cargo vehicles, among others.

Survey: High support for govt does not show in party ratings

LJUBLJANA - About a month after being sworn in, the government of Janez Janša enjoys a high public support, but this has not reflected in support to the coalition parties, shows a poll commissioned by the newspaper Delo. In the poll carried out by the pollster Mediana on 6-9 April, more than 43% of the respondents assessed the government's work as positive. This does not reflect in support for the coalition parties, with the ruling Democrats (SDS) remaining in lead, but support for the party has dropped by one percentage point to 18.7%. It is followed by the opposition LMŠ party of the former PM Marjan Šarec, which lost two percentage points to 11.5%, and the opposition Social Democrats (SD), which gained two points on March to 8.7%.

Pahor says his job is to work with govt, he will end political career in 2022

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor has told Dnevnik in an interview that he intends to end his political career after his term ends in 2022. He also talked about the ongoing health crisis and his cooperation with PM Janez Janša, saying they try to act in unison and keep disagreements out of the public eye. In the interview he praised people for respecting the strict measures that have been put into place. He said he was not afraid of getting infected and said he would self-isolate and work from home if that were to happen. As for Janša, Pahor said his cooperation is based in his philosophy of what it means to be the president. "I am not here to praise or criticise the government, but to cooperate with the government," he said.

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Slovenia sees EU fiscal package as step in right direction

LJUBLJANA - Finance Minister Andrej Šircelj hailed the agreement reached by EU finance ministers on a fiscal package to combat the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic as a "a step in the right direction". "We have a few new instruments, now let's focus on the recovery. We've laid out a sober, responsible, rapid but also ambitious and prudent path to recovery," he said. His comments come after EU finance ministers agreed a EUR 500 billion package of short-term measures to mitigate the economic consequences of coronavirus. Slovenia will be eligible for roughly EUR 900 million in loans from the European Stability Mechanism and another EUR 900 million under a new mechanism called SURE.

Slovenia successful in tackling coronavirus but acute phase not over yet

LJUBLJANA - Bojana Beović, an infectious disease specialist, told Mladina that Slovenia was yet to exit the acute phase of the coronavirus epidemic. However, the Italian scenario is very unlikely to unfold as hospitals have admitted much fewer Covid-19 patients than had been projected. In the next phase the younger population should be allowed to get infected under controlled conditions to gain herd immunity. Slovenia plans to shortly start examining the presence of antibodies which show that a person has recovered from the infection, she said. Slovenia recorded two more Covid-19 fatalities on Thursday, bringing the death toll to 45. The number of infected persons rose by 36 to 1,160.

Pahor deems explanation by PM and FM key for CoE media freedom affair

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor commented on the dispatch sent by Slovenia to the Council of Europe (CoE) in response to a warning about pressure on the media in the country by saying it made sense to wait for an official explanation by the prime minister and foreign minister to see if the letter's content was in fact Slovenia's official position. The letter will be discussed by parliament's foreign policy and culture committees on Tuesday, along with a perceived U-turn in Slovenia's foreign policy. The session was called by the four opposition parties.

Foreign minister and apostolic nuncio discuss cooperation

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar met with Apostolic Nuncio Jean-Marie Speich to review cooperation between Slovenia and the Holy See. They agreed bilateral relations should be deepened. Logar pointed to the importance of spiritual care in the time of the coronavirus pandemic and added that Slovenia appreciated the role of the Holy See in the international community in promoting peace, dialogue and understanding between nations.

Public health insurer says state will have to chip in

LJUBLJANA - The public health insurer ZZZS expects the coronavirus crisis to slash its revenue by around EUR 215 million this year, while higher expenditure is expected on top of that, to the tune of EUR 30 million due to higher sick leave costs alone. The impact of a deferral of health insurance contributions to help businesses is estimated at EUR 200 million. It has urged the government to cover the shortfall. "This is a substantial amount for the healthcare budget. The deferred contributions help the economy but they hurt healthcare," ZZZS director general Marjan Sušelj told the STA.

Large shipment of protective equipment delivered

BRNIK - More than twenty tonnes of protective equipment, including face masks for medical staff, was delivered from China to the Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, one of the largest such shipments since the start of the coronavirus crisis. The 1.1 million FFP2-type masks, which are crucial for frontline staff, along with almost 16,000 protective uniforms for doctors and 1.7 million gloves, was delivered from Chengdu aboard an Airbus A330.

Suspected restriction violation reports totalling 900 so far

LJUBLJANA - The Health Inspectorate said it had so far processed some 900 cases of suspected violations of lockdown restrictions, issuing a total of 128 fines worth more than EUR 9,000. Some 1,500 cases of suspected violations have been referred to the health inspection service by the police. Out of the 128 issued fines, the highest one (EUR 417) has been issued nine times. Fines will increase on Saturday to EUR 4,000 - EUR 100,000 for legal persons and EUR 400 - EUR 4,000 for individuals.

Lawyers want court work resumed, Supreme Court reluctant

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Bar Association has recently appealed to the Supreme Court and Justice Ministry to resume normal operations where possible despite the coronavirus epidemic. Otherwise, Slovenia would be faced with a collapse of the rule of law, warned the association. The Supreme Court is hesitant about heeding the bar's proposal though, highlighting that the emergency measures are valid until further notice, with court restrictions valid until 1 July at the latest.

Older shoppers now ID'd at store entrance

LJUBLJANA - A new regulation entered into force requiring consumers above the age of 65 will need to prove their age with an identity card to enter grocery shops during dedicated opening hours. The government has decreed special shopping hours for vulnerable groups to protect them against coronavirus infection between 8am and 10am and an hour before the shops close. The special opening hours apply exclusively to those above the age of 65, the disabled and pregnant women.

Survey shows high level of trust in conventional media

LJUBLJANA - A survey conducted by Mediana showed most Slovenians trust conventional media, meaning TV, radio and printed media reports, during the coronavirus epidemic. More than half the respondents (51%) said they trusted or fully trusted TV reports, while 8% said they did not trust them at all. The shares for radio reports were 48% and 8% respectively, and for printed media 40% and 7%. The level of trust in online news portals was much lower, at 25%, standing at only 4% for social media.

Damages claims by former CEO against port operator rejected

LJUBLJANA - The Koper District Court rejected a claim by Gašpar Gašpar Mišič, the former chief executive of port operator Luka Koper, who sought in excess of EUR 750,000 for wrongful dismissal plus reinstatement to the post. Gašpar Mišič, who ran Luka Koper between September 2013 and April 2014, had sought damages based on a 2019 decision by the Supreme Court, which found he was wrongfully dismissed.

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PM's tweets put Slovenia's future financial support to WHO in question

LJUBLJANA - The government's coronavirus spokesperson Jelko Kacin rejected interpretations Slovenia had already decided to freeze membership payments to the World Health Organisation (WHO) given that PM Janez Janša said everybody would need to follow the example of the US in taking this step. Asked to comment on a series of tweets by Janša targeting the WHO, including Wednesday's "We all have to do it" in response to US President Donald Trump's announcement the US was going to put on hold funding to the WHO, Kacin said Slovenia was yet to decide on this.

PM says substantial easing of lockdown only after key conditions met

LJUBLJANA - Elaborating on the timeline of the announced easing of coronavirus lockdown measures, PM Janez Janša said a number of conditions would need to be met before any substantial softening was possible. One of those was the transmission rate falling bellow one. Moreover, the healthcare system must not be under excessive pressure, sufficient testing capacities need to be secured and working instruments need to be in place for the transitional period, plus options to monitor the infected.

Coronavirus death toll climbs to 43, confirmed cases reach 1,124

LJUBLJANA - The coronavirus death toll in Slovenia has reached 43 as three people died on Wednesday. The number of confirmed infections rose by 33 to 1,124. Hospital data indicates the situation is stabilising, with hospitalisations and intensive care cases flat. A total of 108 persons were in hospital yesterday, of whom 34 in intensive care. So far 128 persons have been discharged from hospital, eight of them yesterday, government spokesmen Jelko Kacin said.

SDS under fire following dispatch about communist origins of Slovenian media

LJUBLJANA - The senior coalition Democratic Party (SDS) came under fire from journalists, the opposition as well as its coalition partners after an official government dispatch to the Council of Europe's Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists claimed that all the main media stemmed from the communist regime. The dispatch was a response to an alert issued by the Platform after PM Janez Janša tweeted in late March that the public broadcaster RTV Slovenia was misleading the public, adding "apparently there are too many of you and you are paid too well".

PM discusses anti-Covid-19 measures with Fedriga

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša exchanged information on the current coronavirus situation with Friuli Venezia Giulia President Massimiliano Fedriga via videoconference. The pair discussed measures imposed in Slovenia and the Italian region to contain the Covid-19 spread, and vowed to cooperate and exchange relevant experience. The government said that the region bordering Slovenia had been more effective in tackling the epidemic than other northern-Italian regions, which played an important role for Slovenian western and coastal regions.

MEPs urging Slovenia to welcome refugee children

LJUBLJANA - Five Slovenian MEPs called on the government to join EU countries taking in unaccompanied refugee children stranded on Greek islands. In call initiated by Tanja Fajon (S&D/SD) and joined by Milan Brglez (S&D/SD), Klemen Grošelj, Irena Joveva (both Renew/LMŠ), and Ljudmila Novak (EPP/NSi) noted that on 9 March EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on member states to assist 1,600 unaccompanied Syrian children. A number of EU countries have lent a hand, but not Slovenia.

More than 4900 net jobs lost in April, show early data

LJUBLJANA - The coronavirus pandemic and measures to contain infections have hammered the Slovenian labour market hard with unofficial data from the country's Employment Service showing the registered unemployment total rising by 4,922 in the first eight days of April to 82,777. Between 1 and 8 April, 6,093 people lost their jobs. Meanwhile, 1,169 people were removed from the unemployment registry, of whom 817 found jobs.

Slovenia requests international aid over protective equipment transport

LJUBLJANA - The government asked for international assistance in securing transport for protective equipment and other supplies to ensure there is enough equipment to battle the coronavirus epidemic. The Defence Ministry said the request would be made via NATO's Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre. Between 16 March and 8 April, the Agency for Commodity Reserves submitted 55 orders for protective equipment and other medical supplies worth EUR 181 million without VAT. Suppliers have so far delivered on 15 contracts totalling EUR 3.17 million without VAT.

Non-urgent health services to resume

LJUBLJANA - The government decided to allow non-urgent health services to resume under certain conditions after these have been suspended in the efforts to contain the coronavirus epidemic in the country. Such as out-patient specialist and diagnostic services, rehabilitation and other non-emergency treatments will be resumed for patients "with negative epidemic anamnesis who do not have symptoms of a respiratory infection and whose health condition could worsen should the health service be omitted or delayed". Detailed instructions are yet to follow.

Passenger flight ban extended again

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian air traffic remains restricted as the government yet again extended a ban on passenger flights that was already prolonged in late March. Flights within the EU are suspended until 27 April, with the rest banned until further notice. The ban was originally put in place on 17 March, suspending passenger flights from and to EU countries until 30 March and other flights until further notice. In line with the EU law, the government then extended the ban for two weeks.

Trade in goods continued to grow in February, exports up 12%

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia's trade in goods continued to grow in February, the month before Slovenia introduced strict lockdown measures amid the coronavirus epidemic. Exports grew by 11.7% and imports by 5.9% over February 2019, data released by the Statistics Office show. Exports reached EUR 2.98 billion and imports EUR 2.75 billion, putting the monthly surplus at EUR 232.3 million and export-import ratio at 108.4%. EU markets accounted for 70.3% of Slovenia's exports and 69.2% of imports.

Krka shareholders looking at much higher dividend

NOVO MESTO - The supervisory and management boards of Krka proposed the shareholders of the drug maker be paid dividends of EUR 4.25 gross per share. Not only is the proposed payout almost a third higher than in 2019, Krka is actually one of few listed companies whose shareholders may get dividends this year. The company said the boards would propose at the AGM scheduled for 9 July that EUR 133.85 million in distributable profit from 2019 is allocated for dividends.

Slovenia seeking flexibility in EU culture funding

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia advocates funding flexibility and allowances for the specifics of smaller countries when it comes to the financing of cultural programmes, Culture Minister Vasko Simonito told his EU counterparts at a teleconference on Wednesday. "Each member state has its own cultural, economic and linguistic characteristics. But without cooperation among us European projects are questionable as well. It is therefore urgent that all measures currently adopted by the European Commission make allowances for the diverse needs of cultural sectors in individual countries."

Survey: One out of three Slovenians continue to go to work

LJUBLJANA - A survey conduced by Aragon found that almost one out of three Slovenians (29%) continue to go to work as they used to before the measures to contain the coronavirus epidemic were introduced, and a similar proportion work from home (28%). An additional 16% have been temporarily laid-off and 9% are on annual leave with 5% working short time and as many are on sick leave. More than half of the respondents believe the epidemic poses a great risk for their jobs and companies they work for.

Poll shows growing optimism regarding coronavirus situation

LJUBLJANA - Slovenians are increasingly optimistic regarding the situation around the coronavirus epidemic, shows the latest survey by Valicon, as a vast majority of respondents believes that things are turning for the better. The share of people who are concerned about their jobs has increased, but it is still relatively low. Some 89% of respondents said that things were getting better or much better, compared to 66% a week ago and 56% two weeks ago. Slovenians also express optimism when it comes to the current situation, with 58% assessing it as more positive than negative.

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Minister announces gradual easing of retail and service sector restrictions after Easter

LJUBLJANA - Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšk announced a gradual easing of restrictions in place for retail and service businesses after the Easter holidays. He said tyre repair shops, car washes, mechanic shops, and technical goods repair services would gradually reopen after Easter. Stores selling construction material will also reopen, which is important to ensure self-sufficiency and enable people to work from home, the minister said. Later, a gradual reopening of stores selling technical goods is planned Počivalšek stressed that the epidemiologic situation would be monitored and that everybody would have to follow recommendations of the Public Health Institute.

Four new deaths and 36 new cases of Covid-19 recorded

LJUBLJANA - A total of 1,214 Covid-19 tests were performed in Slovenia on Tuesday, with 36 persons confirmed as positive. Four patients have meanwhile died, increasing the death toll to 40, the government has announced. The total number of confirmed cases is up to 1,091, with 111 Covid-19 patients currently in hospital, after five were discharged yesterday. 35 patients are in intensive care. A total of 120 persons diagnosed with Covid-19 have been discharged from hospital.

Italian, Slovenian presidents agree solidarity key in overcoming coronavirus

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor discussed efforts to overcome the coronavirus pandemic with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella. The presidents underlined the importance of solidarity and cooperation among nations, and expressed regret at the EU's inability to respond earlier and more effectively. They expressed support for the measures adopted by the governments of their respective countries, as well as efforts at the level of the EU to overcome the economic crisis. "NATO, as well as the EU, are being challenged and it is not clear what will happen after the crisis. That is why it is key to preserve democratic values and the feeling for community," Pahor's office said.

Chamber says private doctors should help restart healthcare

LJUBLJANA - Medical Chamber head Zdenka Čebašek-Travnik urged the government to use all medical staff, including private doctors and dentists, to restart the country's healthcare when it begins to gradually exit the coronavirus crisis. Arguing that the need for treatment will soar once the system returns to normal, she wondered for how much longer the government would tolerate private doctors and dentists not being able to perform medical services within the public health system. She believes society will have to decide weather and how it uses all resources, public and private, to provide for the medical care of all residents.

Questions raised about intermediaries in PPE supplies

LJUBLJANA - As countries worldwide grapple with how to secure sufficient personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic, Slovenia has turned to intermediaries. Facing criticism, the Economy Ministry initially argued the Agency for Commodity Reserves cannot buy directly from Chinese manufacturers because the agency or the state cannot engage in direct financial transactions with subjects in China but can only deal with Slovenian subjects. Facing arguments that this was not true, Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek said in the evening the reason was the advance payment demanded by most suppliers. In response the criticism about deals with Slovenian intermediaries, the Agency for Commodity Reserves published a chart with information on contracts signed with various companies. The total value of all contracts signed so far is EUR 116 million without VAT. Goods worth EUR 6 million have been delivered.

Central bank suspends dividend payout by banks for a year

LJUBLJANA - The central bank suspended for a year the payout of dividends by banks and savings banks. The measure is aimed at securing sufficient capital so that the system could better sustain potential losses and be able to supply the economy and individuals with loans. The measure "relates to profits made by banks and savings banks in 2019 and 2020, and to retained profit and reserves from previous years. It is expected to be in force for one year," the central bank said, adding it would adjust the action if necessary. The measure is likely to enter into force at the end of the week and will not be applied retroactively, meaning it will not affect banks that already chose to pay out dividends this year.

Govt points to ex regime in response to CoE criticism of pressure on media in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA/STRASBOURG, France - Responding to criticism coming from the Council of Europe (CoE) over pressure on the media in Slovenia, the government has argued the situation is a result of media having "their origin in the former communist regime". While the CoE has been highlighting pressure occurring under the new government, the government wrote that the CoE's attention should be drawn to the broader context of the media situation in the country, including historical facts in the development of the media market. Meanwhile, the programming council of RTV Slovenija issued a statement condemning attacks on the broadcaster's independence and on the professionalism of its journalists after recent attacks on its crews and twitter comments about its reporting and wages published by PM Janez Janša.

Vojko Urbas new head of criminal police

LJUBLJANA - Vojko Urbas was appointed acting director of the Criminal Police Department and took over from his predecessor Boštjan Lindav. He was appointed by acting Police Commissioner Anton Travner, who has led the force since the Janez Janša government was appointed in mid-March. Urbas has been in the police force for 34 years, of which 19 years at the Crime Police Department. He will be in charge of almost 1,000 Slovenian criminal police officers until Branko Japelj returns from work abroad. Lindav, who the police says has rich operative and managerial experience, will meanwhile become criminality advisor to Travner.

Coronavirus posing risk of surge in domestic violence

Ljubljana, 08 April (STA) - The coronavirus crisis has raised fears about a spike in domestic violence, which has been detected in many countries during the pandemic. The latest data from Slovenian police do not show a significant increase in such cases since lockdown was put in place, in fact a spike in reported cases prior to the epidemic levelled off since the lockdown. But police as well as NGOs warn that based on their experience, it could well be that the circumstances themselves are thwarting reporting of such emergencies, with victims being less able to phone and report or even to contact a friend or relative.

Religious leaders urge believers to stay home

LJUBLJANA - The top leaders of major religious groups in Slovenia called on believers to stay home, pray and peruse religious texts as they addressed the daily government coronavirus press briefing. Ljubljana Archbishop Stanislav Zore, bishop of the Slovenian Evangelical Lutheran Church Leon Novak, the head of the Slovenian Jewish Community Boris Čerin-Levi, the Islamic community's leader Mufti Nedžad Grabus and Peran Bošković, the leader of the Ljubljana Serb Orthodox community, stressed observance was important but people should stay home to help contain the spread of coronavirus.

Chinese twin cities rush to provide PPE to Maribor

MARIBOR - Maribor received 10,000 face masks from Hanghzou, its twin city in China, after turning to its partner cities in China for help with the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). The FFP-2 masks that arrived yesterday are essential for staff working with persons infected with coronavirus. Donations have also been announced by other cities. Maribor's twin city Chongqing has pledged a donation of 15,000 FFP-2 masks, while partner cities Nanjing, Huaian and Nanchang have promised a total of 62,000 surgical masks and some thermometers.

Calls to secure drinking water during epidemic mark Roma Day

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Roma warned about tenacious discrimination and their communities struggling in the face of the coronavirus crisis as they observed International Roma Day. The calls to secure drinking water to all settlements were echoed by Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina, while Education Minister Simona Kustec congratulated the Roma, saying Slovenia was making extra efforts to provide education for Roma children. She stressed that such initiatives were ongoing even during the COVID-19 epidemic.

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PM says easing of lockdown could start in a week

LJUBLJANA - As Slovenia preserved a flat curve of new coronavirus cases - reports for Monday said confirmed cases were up by 35 to 1,055 and the death toll rose by 6 to 36 - PM Janez Janša announced that some of the restrictive measures could perhaps be eased as early as next Tuesday, provided that certain conditions, including the stability of the healthcare system, are met. He said the government was examining the possibility of relaunching manufacturing, part of the services sector, commerce and transport if protective measures are implemented. Janša was critical of developments in the EU, saying solidarity in the procurement of protective gear was non-existent and suggesting a failure to support corona bonds could imperil the future of the common currency and even of the bloc.

Top court: State doesn't have to fund non-mandatory curricula at private schools

LJUBLJANA - More than five years after deciding the state must provide equal funding for public and private primary schools, the Constitutional Court has specified that this applies only to the mandatory part of school curricula at private schools but not to non-mandatory curricula, such as morning and afternoon care, or remedial tutoring. The court said that legislation stipulating that non-mandatory curricula at private schools get 85% of the funds provided for public schools was not unconstitutional. Left-leaning parties, which the court criticised for keeping funding for both curricula at 85% after the 2014 ruling, welcomed the news, suggesting their interpretation had been vindicated, while the senior coalition Democrats (SDS) believe the decision opens new questions.

Debate on giving military police powers postponed

LJUBLJANA - Parliament backed a coalition proposal to postpone a debate on granting the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) limited police powers to help patrol the border to contain illegal migration while many policemen are helping in the country's anti-Covid 19 efforts. The coalition gave no formal reason for the postponement of the debate, which was meant to end without a vote, angering the opposition, which opposes giving the SAF police powers for up to three months. But the idea is to consult constitutional jurists on whether parliament can vote on giving the SAF police powers even if a government motion to do so failed to win the required two-thirds majority on the parliamentary Defence Committee last week.

Parliament embraces remote voting

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly voted with the needed two-thirds majority in favour of changes to the rules of procedure that allow it to hold sessions and vote remotely in exceptional circumstances such as the coronavirus epidemic or some other natural disaster. The amendmentsallow MPs in exceptional circumstances to debate and vote remotely with the help of information and communication technology at a plenary session, and in some cases at sessions of parliamentary working bodies. The sessions will be public. It will be possible for a remote session to be called in case of a natural or other grave accident (a state of emergency), if a session with MPs present in person is a risk to MPs' health or safety and when such a session is urgent to pass decisions that cannot be delayed.

MPs pass referendum act changes to prevent slowing of epidemic-mitigating laws

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed legislative changes that will shorten the period for laws, which cannot be challenged in referendi, to take effect. The changes were passed with 66 votes in favour and 8 against, are expected to speed up the implementation of laws designed to alleviate consequences of the Covid-19 epidemic by 8 days. The changes stipulate that the relevant bills would take effect immediately after the upper chamber showed no intention of vetoing them. The changes will only apply to bills that cannot be challenged with a referendum. The government may decide that a bill cannot be subjected to a referendum if its purpose is to introduce emergency measures for reasons of defence and security, and to mitigate consequences of natural disasters.

Healthcare system preparing Covid-19 exit strategy

LJUBLJANA - After focussing all resources on Covid-19 patients and emergency cases since mid-March, the Slovenian healthcare system is preparing to gradually reopen to other patients while taking stringent precautionary measures. Hospitals have already received instructions from the Ministry of Health to start accepting other patients. In the first phase of the exit strategy the country's biggest hospital, UKC Ljubljana, plans to start accepting patients with the level of urgency indicated on referrals 'fast' along with the 'urgent' and 'very fast' that it is accepting now. At UKC Maribor, medical councils are going through medical files to determine the order in which the hospital will start admitting other patients that need treatment.

State borrows another EUR 2.25 billion

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian state has borrowed another EUR 2.25 billion by carrying out a new 10-year bond issue and expanding the amounts of the previous two bond issues, the business newspaper Finance reported, referring to Bloomberg. The government has issued anew a 10-year bond worth one billion euro, increased the amount of a bond issue due in August 2045 by EUR 100 million and of a recent three-year bond issue, due in March 2023, by EUR 1.15 billion. Since the coronavirus epidemic was declared in mid-March, the state has expanded the amounts certain bond issues and also issued more than half a billion worth in treasury bonds of different maturity. It has borrowed a total of EUR 5.4 billion this year.

Stock market index surges 6%

LJUBLJANA - The SBI TOP index of the Ljubljana Stock Exchange continued to recover, surging 6.11% to 780.64 points as all blue chips recorded strong gains, the biggest gainer being the port operator Luka Koper (+10.59% to EUR 18.80). The drug maker Krka accounted for around a third of the daily turnover of some EUR 3 million. Following Luka Koper in terms of gains were the insurers Sava Re (+9.15% to EUR 15.50) and Zavarovalnica Triglav (+8.11% to EUR 28). Krka gained 6.38% to EUR 70 on deals worth EUR 1.02 million and was the most coveted item today, followed by the energy company Petrol (+4.61% to EUR 295), which accounted for EUR 584,090 in deals.

Real estate market waiting for coronavirus epidemic to end

LJUBLJANA - The real estate market has slowed down due to lockdown measures to restrict the spread of the coronavirus epidemic. But while real estate agencies have seen a significant drop in turnover, they say clients have not abandoned their intentions to buy or lease, and that the true impact of the crisis would depend on the duration of the epidemic and its effect on purchasing power. According to Boštjan Udovič, the head of the Real Estate Association at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS), the number of transactions is dropping, but prices remain stable.

President says electoral law reform should return to agenda

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor thinks a reform of electoral law in accordance with a 2018 Constitutional Court decision should return to the political agenda as soon as the situation permits. "This issue affects democracy in Slovenia. Elections are not everything, but without elections there is no democracy," he told the STA. "Of course we cannot press ahead with this now, but as soon as we find the opportune time allowing us to dedicate ourselves to this matter, we have to focus on it. We cannot afford a shadow of constitutional doubt hanging over the next election," he said.

Fiscal Council finds government coronavirus measures justified

LJUBLJANA - The Fiscal Council, the body overseeing Slovenia's adherence to the fiscal rule, endorsed the measures taken by the government to contain the coronavirus epidemic and mitigate its consequences. It said the Slovenian government's measures were for the most part in agreement with recommendations by international organisations and comparable in scope to measures taken by other countries. However, in the future the measures must be more targeted, simple and limited in duration.

Postal company reports higher revenue, profit below target for 2019

MARIBOR - Pošta Slovenije, the national postal company, generated EUR 262.7 million in revenue last year, EUR 12 million more than the year before. While failing to disclose the profit figure, the company said it was substantially below projections. The main reason for the lower-than-expected profitability is mainly a pay deal the company had struck with trade unions. Director-general Boris Novak could not project yet how the coronavirus pandemic will affect the company's operations and bottom-line, noting that the effects on the economy were multi-faceted while it was yet to be seen how fast production processes and logistic chains returned to normal.

Soaring demand for digital content recorded in March

LJUBLJANA - Demand for content on Slovenian digital platforms surged to record values in the second half of March as Slovenia switched to a coronavirus lockdown mode, an analysis carried out by advertising agency Iprom shows. The number of users of online platforms increased by 52% over February and they consumed an average of 75% more content daily. Content for children and youth posted the biggest rises: its average daily reach was up 166% and daily visits by 213%.

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Coronavirus death toll in Slovenia rises to 30 as infections top 1,000

LJUBLJANA - Two persons infected with Covid-19 died in Slovenia on Sunday, bringing the death toll to 30. The number of confirmed infections rose by 24 in a day to 1,021, showed the latest statistics released on Monday by the government. The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital rose by six to 114 but was still below the end of March peak of 120. Of those, 30 were in intensive care, one fewer than on Saturday. The head of the Koper unit of the the Institute of Public Health Milan Krek said the current measures had helped turn the curve of new daily cases. He however urged caution, saying future behaviour will determine whether the epidemic calms or cases rise from 1,000 to 10,000.

Some industries could be restarted after Easter holidays

LJUBLJANA - The government is preparing measures to enable some industries to relaunch operations immediately after the Easter holidays if the current trend in the number of persons diagnosed with Covid-19 continues, government spokesman Jelko Kacin announced. "The government could examine as early as this week measures which would enable the re-start of certain braches of industry already after the Easter holidays, if this positive tend continues." Similarly, the Chamber of Commerce (TZS) hopes the first stores which have been subject to closure since 16 March will reopen after Easter. It thus plans to make an assessment of the situation this week and draft a proposal for their reopening.

Slovenia planning to issue three different bonds in near future

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia is planning to issue 10-year and 3-year bonds and will look into the possibility of issuing 30-year bonds, with the Finance Ministry giving the mandate to organise the deals to Barclays, BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole, Deutsche Bank and JP Morgan. Considering previous experience, the sales may take place soon. Slovenia needs the funds so as to be able to cope with the coronavirus epidemic. The first stimulus package, passed last week, is worth EUR 3 billion and a new one is already in the works. However, the ministry did not specify how much money the government would raise this time.

Slovenia to ask for aid from EU Civil Protection Mechanism

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenia is planning to ask for aid in the form of protective gear as part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, and is also examining a possibility of asking NATO to help with air transport, Defence Minister Matej Tonin told Slovenian reporters in Brussels after a teleconference with EU defence ministers. The government could discuss the request for EU aid in the coming days. He also highlighted an agreement reached at international level not to send any new soldiers to missions and operations in the next three months, which will affect the Slovenian mission in Kosovo, where a new contingent was to be sent this month.

Slovenia supports joint statement on coronavirus measures

LJUBLJANA - Justice Minister Lilijana Kozlovič expressed support for the recent statement by a group of EU member states saying that the emergency measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic must be proportionate, in line with the constitution and implemented for a limited period of time. Slovenia's support in principle was announced after a video-conference of EU justice ministers. Slovenia has so far not joined the statement, which does not explicitly mention any country, but it is belives to target Hungary. The decision about joining it is in the domain of the Foreign Ministry, which said Slovenia does not have any problem with it, but would like it to be adopted by all 27 members as a sign of unity.

Support for referendum law reform appears sufficient

LJUBLJANA - Government-sponsored amendments transposing changes to the constitution into a law and setting down the National Assembly's course of action in case of a referendum initiative challenging a law that cannot be challenged under the constitution, are likely to garner the needed two-thirds majority on Tuesday. The Public Administration Ministry said the coalition had pledged its full support for the amendments to the referendum law, with only the opposition Left against. Under the amendments, the laws that cannot be challenged in a referendum could be promulgated as soon as the upper chamber's potential reservations ceased. Support for them was also expressed by President Borut Pahor, who promulgates laws. He said they would allow for greater efficiency in a democratic way.

Hospitals in Slovenia got nearly 70 new ventilators last week

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia has been acquiring medical and protective equipment to better face the coronavirus epidemic for weeks. Last week, the Agency for Commodity Reserves delivered 66 mechanical ventilators to hospitals, as well as 1.83 million three-layer face masks and over 401,000 FFP2 masks. Economic Development and Technology Minister Zdravko Počivalšek wrote on Twitter that other institutions had also received masks. He is also very excited about the launch of mask production in Slovenia, saying that half a million masks would be produced this week alone.

President and ambassador mark Slovenian-American Friendship Day

LJUBLJANA - President Borut Pahor and US Ambassador to Slovenia Lynda Blanchard met to mark the Slovenian-American Friendship and Alliance Day, with Pahor calling for the end of hostility among nations and for cooperation among nations against the Covid-19 pandemic. Blanchard, as quoted as saying by Pahor's office, said challenges ahead will be faced in cooperation, a tradition celebrated by the Slovenian-American Friendship and Alliance Day. The day has been celebrated for seven years, however this was the first time a ceremony was not held in the village of Andraž nad Polzelo, where a US aircraft was shot down in 1944 by the Nazis.

Bishops see civic maturity tested again like 30 years ago

LJUBLJANA - The Commission for Justice and Peace of the Slovenian Bishops' Conference recalled the first free multi-party elections in Slovenia 30 years ago likening the situation at the time to the coronavirus crisis in which the bishops see "our civic duty, responsibility" put to test again. The epidemic has brought down the "self-deception that nothing really bad can happen to us", Anton Stres, the conference's head and former Ljubljana archbishop, wrote in the message. The commission said the current developments were yet another warning of how decisive each election is "because through it we appoint authorities that in moments of crisis (...) almost everything depends on".

Several companies resuming production

NOVO MESTO/BEGUNJE/ŽIRI - Several Slovenian companies announced they would shortly relauch production after suspending or scaling it down amind the coronavirus epidemic. Caravan maker Adria Mobil will restart it on Tuesday after it temporarily suspended it in mid-March, with support services and management resuming their operations already today. Footwear manufacturer Alpina relaunched production to a certain extent after a ten-day shutdown due to demand, hoping the situation could soon go back to normal. Sports goods maker Elan's production meanwhile remains suspended. It said production could presumably be resumed after Easter, depending on the development of the epidemic.

Farm organisations urge measures to mitigate damage to sector

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian agriculture organisations raised concern about "huge" damage to business due to the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, urging the government to take a series of measures, including curbs on meat imports and increased purchase of produce for national commodity reserves. Farm organisations from the north-east of the country, the centre of Slovenia's farming sector, reported serious disruption in sales of meat, dairy and wine and the damage suffered by complementary activities such as farmsteads. They said many farms were unable to sell livestock and pigs due to a lack of interest by the purchasers at home and closure of foreign markets.

UEFA boss wants to see govt express a more optimistic view

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian lawyer and UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin believes Slovenian authorities should express a bit more optimistic view of the situation as the country is fighting the coronavirus epidemic. In an interview for sport newspaper EkipaSN, the head of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) said he was sick of "everyday pessimism and apocalypticism" in public appearances of Slovenian politicians. Asked whether he was thinking about entering Slovenian politics, he said the job of UEFA president was where his mind was all the time, but confirmed he had been receiving such propositions lately.

OECD finds Slovenia a leader in public procurement transparency

LJUBLJANA - An OECD report has found Slovenia to be one of the most transparent OECD countries in the field of public procurement, yet it recommended it to open up its public procurement procedures to more experimentation and innovative methods. Slovenia was the fist public procurement case study for a group of experts from the OECD and the European Commission focusing on structural change to public polices in a project that saw the OECD partner up with the EU and the Slovenian government, the Public Administration Ministry said.

Fuel prices drop to one euro

LJUBLJANA - Administered fuel prices in Slovenia will further drop to eleven-year lows on Tuesday despite the government increasing excise duties today. Regular and diesel sold at service stations outside the motorway network will cost one euro per litre, the Government Communication Office said. The last time regular cost less than a euro was in April 2009 and diesel in May 2009 during the last financial crisis. The two fuels are now sold at EUR 1.029 and EUR 1.017 per litre, respectively.

Dystopian play about warehouse workers wins Grum Prize

KRANJ - A dystopian play by Tjaša Mislej about four workers working and living in a giant warehouse won this year's Slavko Grum Prize for best new Slovenian play. Four women are doing their monotonous job where no buyer or anyone else can see them. Their work in isolation is tedious and endless, reminiscent of work in a labour camp. Mislej will receive the award at the end of the 50th Slovenian Drama Week, which was postponed until further notice due to the coronavirus epidemic.

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Strict lockdown to last at least another 2-4 weeks

LJUBLJANA - Stringent lockdown restrictions introduced three weeks ago to fight the coronavirus epidemic are working and they will last "at least two to four more weeks," government spokesman Jelko Kacin said, adding that the easing of the measures would have to be "carefully planned and measured." Prime Minister Janez Janše delivered a similar message after a visit to UKC Ljubljana. He said Slovenia was doing fine at the moment but it was necessary to be very cautious. "A lot of what we currently perceive as the suspension of public life may gradually return to normal, even before the end of May and perhaps some of it before the end of April."

PM rejects criticism govt not listening to experts

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša rebuffed critics who have accused the government of sidelining public health professionals. He said the government had listened to a broader circle of experts beyond the domestic National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ). The government "listened to advice by domestic and foreign epidemiologists. Including those at [NIJZ] who can at least use #Google," he wrote on Twitter. The government has taken the decisions based on the opinion of experts "but it is true that the so-called experts in Slovenia were not unanimous for a long time and we always had to see how other countries and experts in other countries are responding," he told the press after visiting UKC Ljubljana.

Coronavirus death toll in Slovenia rises to 28

LJUBLJANA - The coronavirus death toll rose by six to 28 on Saturday, as the number of confirmed cases increased to 997, up by 20 from the day before, show the latest government statistics. While the death toll has been rising rapidly in recent days, hospital numbers have been mostly flat or even declining. The number of persons in hospital with Covid-19 dropped by 1 to 108, having peaked at almost 120 at the end of March. Of those, 31 were in intensive care, the same number as the day before. Almost 200 residents of nursing homes and 156 health staff are among those infected.

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Number of coronavirus cases rises to 977; 22 deaths confirmed

LJUBLJANA - Two more deaths related to the new coronavirus in Slovenia were recorded on Friday, putting the death toll at 22. The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases rose by 43 to 977 in a day, the government said on Twitter. A total of 1,188 tests were performed yesterday. The number of hospitalised persons dropped from 112 to 109, while the number of patients in intensive care rose by one to 31. Ten people were released from hospital on Friday.

Minister says state will finance bonuses for vital staff

LJUBLJANA - The bonuses for vital public sector staff envisaged by the government mega stimulus bill will be fully covered by the state, Public Administration Minister Boštjan Koritnik said. Institutions' heads will decide on who will receive the bonus, he said. Employees will be eligible for the bonus in the amount of up to 100% of hourly wage if exposed to the coronavirus infection and dealing with excessive workload.

Austria partly opening Holmec border crossing

HOLMEC - Foreign Minister Anže Logar and his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg have agreed that the Holmec border crossing, which Austria recently closed as it put in place additional restrictions to contain the spread of coronavirus, will be partly open as of Monday so as not to cause problems for Slovenians commuting to work to Austria.

Minister excited about efforts to increase food self-sufficiency amid crisis

DOBROVNIK - Agriculture Minister Aleksandra Pivec hailed on Friday a decision by a company growing orchids to also start growing vegetables as a case of rapid adaptation that can serve as an example to others on how to increase food self-sufficiency in the country in these times of crisis and in general. She announced government measures to facilitate this. Paying a visit to Ocean Orchids, which decided to use its greenhouses to also grow salad and plans to expand to other vegetables if the situation demands it, Pivec spoke of a successful practice that was a response to the crisis.

No major violations of new movement restrictions

LJUBLJANA - Police were checking compliance with movement restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus across the country, detecting no major violations on Saturday. Increased oversight will continue the entire weekend, focussing on popular tourist spots. Police are patrolling public surfaces and checking passengers at motorways and other roads. Officers are also responding to reports of alleged violations from citizens. People are mostly honouring restrictions, police say.

Ljubljana airport sees drop in cargo transport, no changes at Koper port

LJUBLJANA/KOPER - Due to the coronavirus epidemic, Ljubljana airport recorded a 20% drop in the amount of cargo transported in March. This is mostly the cargo transported in passenger planes, the airport operator Fraport Slovenija has said. The port of Koper was not affected in March, but the company managing the port expects a drop in the future.

Vulnerable groups to shop one hour more from today

LJUBLJANA - Vulnerable groups such as the disabled, pensioners and pregnant women are being given one more dedicated shopping hour from Saturday after being so far encouraged to shop for supplies only between 8am and 10am to minimise the risk of coronavirus infection. Under a decision taken by the government last night, two time slots will be reserved for vulnerable groups from Saturday, between 8am and 10am, and between 5pm and 6pm, when shops close. Pensioners will be allowed to shop only during those times, the Government Communication Office said.

Flour, rice and pasta sell like hot cakes amid Covid-19

LJUBLJANA - Sales of flour, rice and pasta rose more than four-fold in Slovenia in the week from 9 to 15 March compared to the same period last year, data by Nielsen agency shows. Cereal, canned meat, and pre-made sauces and soups recorded a growth rate of between 200% and 300%. This was in the week when the government declared a coronavirus epidemic on 12 March, when residents were becoming more worried about the outbreak and potential food shortages.

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Highest increase in coronavirus deaths

LJUBLJANA - Four more deaths related to the new coronavirus in Slovenia were recorded on Thursday, the highest daily increase yet, and another patient died today, increasing the overall death toll to 21. The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases rose by 37 to 934 by end of Thursday with Health Ministry data showing that 177 nursing home residents were infected, 15 more than the day before. In addition, 128 health workers are infected. 112 Covid-19 patients were hospitalised, 30 of them in intensive care.

Govt not giving up on plan to deploy military along the border

LJUBLJANA - The government has not given up on the plan to give the military certain police powers for deployment along the border with Croatia, government spokesman Jelko Kacin told the press. The plan was voted down on the parliamentary committee on Wednesday, but Kacin said the government would keep insisting on this since it had no other choice. Part of the reason why soldiers are needed is because some border police officers are being relocated inland to help check whether people around the country adhere to the epidemic restrictions. The National Assembly is expected to hold a discussion on extending police powers to the army next week, but will not vote on the proposal.

Relaunch of business activities conditional on protective equipment

LJUBLJANA - The government is examining how to gradually restart the economy amidst the lockdown, but in order to do so a sufficient amount of personal protective equipment must be secured, said the government's spokesman for the coronavirus epidemic, Jelko Kacin. "The Ministry of Economic Development and Technology is prioritising domestic production of protective equipment that would be available to workers," he said, adding that the business sector was behind only healthcare and nursing homes when it came to the distribution of protective equipment. The goal is to domestically produce 100,000 masks daily.

Work begins on stimulus package No. 2

LJUBLJANA - The government started discussing guidelines for a second fiscal stimulus package after its first, EUR 3 billion law was passed in parliament. The focus will be on correcting any flaws in the first package and measures to boost the economy's liquidity. The government would like to adopt the second bill in ten days. It will be helped by the advisory task force led by economist Matej Lahovnik, which also advised it on the first package.

Troop rotations on foreign missions put off by three months

LJUBLJANA - The Defence Ministry announced that the rotations of contingents of the Slovenian Armed Forces in international operations and missions planned in the next three months will not be carried out. The contingents which are currently abroad will need to extend their service for three months. Defence Minister Matej Tonin explained that the decision was made because of the situation and measures related to the coronavirus pandemic. Around 250 troops are deployed in Kosovo and eight in Mali.

All persons coming to Slovenia will be quarantined or isolated

LJUBLJANA - From Saturday all persons coming to Slovenia from abroad will face a 14-day quarantine, the government decided. So far, some groups of Slovenians returning from abroad were placed at hotels or other facilities, while others were not. Now, they will be quarantined at home if possible and if not, they will be placed at facilities. Healthy persons will receive an order from the Health Ministry for a 14-day quarantine at their permanent or temporary residence. Persons who fall ill will call their doctor and follow their instructions. Violations of the quarantine carry a fine of EUR 400.

Govt restricts use of certain drugs

LJUBLJANA - The government restricted the usage of drugs containing chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine or azithromycin to make sure enough of those substances are available to patients who need them. Due to the spread of coronavirus infections the prescribing of medications with the three substances, which are principally used for the treatment of other conditions but have proven to be effective in the treatment of Covid-19, has increased, so prescribing these medications for personal use and their over-the-counter sale were banned until further notice.

Florist shops and nurseries reopen

LJUBLJANA - Florist shops and nurseries reopened a day after the government decided to add them to the list of exemptions to restrictions that shut down most non-essential businesses in Slovenia. The government decided to allow florists' and nurseries to reopen because spring is a peak selling time for these businesses that invested a lot of funds and work in growing seedlings and other plants. Additionally, construction work will be allowed at construction sites that are not used as living spaces and where the workers have no contact with the clients.

Foreign policy committee chair notes Slovenia's new orientation

LJUBLJANA - The chair of the parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee, Matjaž Nemec, expressed surprise because Slovenia failed to join a group of EU countries that have expressed concern about the risk of violations of the rule of law by measures to curb the spread of coronavirus. Nemec, the vice-charman of the opposition Social Democrats, said this was a shift in Slovenia's foreign policy that could damage the country's reputation in the EU. A statement by 17 countries indirectly addressed the controversial provisions of Hungary's new law. Meanwhile, Slovenian members of the European People's Party (EPP) rejected calls for expelling Hungarian Fidesz from the EPP by saying now was the time to focus on curbing the coronavirus pandemic.

Slovenia donates protective equipment to North Macedonia

SKOPJE, Macedonia - Slovenia donated to North Macedonia protective equipment worth EUR 110,000 to help the country fight the new coronavirus. The Slovenian Defence Ministry said that the donation for the Macedonian Interior Ministry includes 100,000 protective masks and 100,000 protective gloves. "The donation comes at a crucial moment. I'd like to thank Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša and our Slovenian friends," Interior Minister Nakje Chulev was quoted by the Macedonian press agency MIA.

Almost EUR 59,000 raised in donations for Covid-19 relief

LJUBLJANA - Individuals and businesses have donated over 58,800 euro as they responded to the Finance Ministry's call to raise funds for Covid-19 relief. The donations go into the "budgetary reserve" and the government will report to parliament on the use on a monthly basis. The ministry said the money was raised between 27 March and 2 April. Donations are also being made directly, from protective equipment donated to hospitals to food to those in need.

Government approval rating at 57.8% in Nova24TV poll

LJUBLJANA - The government has an approval rating of 57.8% in an public opinion poll carried out by the pollster Parsifal for Nova24TV. More than 85% support the government's measures to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, while 11.3% believe that they are inappropriate. The EUR 3 billion legislative package to stimulate the economy and mitigate the impact of the epidemic enjoys almost the same support (85.7%), while 8.9% did not express support and 5.4% were undecided.

Slovenia's jobless total up 0.5% in March

LJUBLJANA - The coronavirus crisis has started to take a toll on the unemployment situation in Slovenia and what had been a favourable trend until recently has reversed. The number of people registered as unemployed grew by 0.5% to 77,855 in March compared to February, a 1.7% increase year-on-year. The service recorded 7,848 new recipients of unemployment benefits in March, up almost 52% on February and 56% more than in March 2019. Among those, the bulk were between jobs due to termination of their fixed-term employment contracts (3,320), while 2,440 were made redundant.

TEŠ needs environmental permit for co-incineration

LJUBLJANA - The Environment Agency (ARSO) ordered TEŠ, a coal-fired power station from Šoštanj, to carry out environmental impact assessment and obtain a changed environmental permit if it wants to introduce co-incineration of non-hazardous waste. ARSO said in its 27 March decision the changes planned by TEŠ are so extensive that they warrant environment impact assessment and changes to TEŠ's environmental permit. Opposing the co-incineration project, environmentalists urged suspending the incineration and co-incineration regulation and all procedures related to co-incineration.

Writers call on authorities to respect human rights during corona crisis

LJUBLJANA - Thirty members of the Slovenian chapter of PEN International called on the Slovenian authorities to respect all citizens' rights guaranteed by law and constitution as measures to contain the coronavirus epidemic are being introduced. The writers are "aware of the need for restrictions at individual and collective levels intended for containing the epidemic," but expect that parliament will not restrict rights or introduce new or broader powers of law enforcement.

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Parliament passes EUR 3 billion stimulus package

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly passed by 53 votes to one a EUR 3 billion stimulus package aiming to cushion the impact of coronavirus on Slovenia's economy and society. The umbrella law brings financial assistance for companies and workers affected by the epidemic as well as for the self-employed, pensioners, students, large families and welfare recipients. To the dismay of the opposition, the law also includes an expansion of police powers to issue fines for violations of lockdown rules, erect road blocks, temporary limit people's freedom of movement and access sensitive personal data. PM Janez Janša announced a second package which will address businesses' liquidity problems and include corrections to the first law, while a third one would set out an "exit strategy after the government takes a decision on the end of the epidemic."

Motion to give army police powers voted down

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary Defence Committee rejected Wednesday night a motion to give the Slovenian Armed Forces limited police powers to control the border that the government said was essential to help relieve the burden on police officers so they could better be deployed to help keep the coronavirus epidemic in check. The proposal to activate Article 37.a of the defence act was endorsed by the coalition and the opposition National Party (SNS), but this was not enough to secure the required two-thirds majority. The opposition said the measure was unnecessary in the current situation.

Number of coronavirus cases rises by 56 to 897, 16 deaths confirmed

LJUBLJANA - The number of coronavirus cases in Slovenia rose by 56 in a day to 897 by Wednesday midnight. The death toll increased by one to 16. A total of 112 patents were hospitalised, 29 of them in intensive care. Four were discharged from hospital. As many as 162 of those infected are care home residents and 32 are care home staff, the numbers going up by 25 and 2, respectively. To contain the spread, the Labour Ministry instructed the facilities to create separate zones for healthy residents, those suspected of having the virus and those who tested positive, but care homes said this would not be feasible everywhere.

PM says common debt instrument would send strong message of unity

LJUBLJANA - Prime Minister Janez Janša called for a determined and coordinated action in the face of the coronavirus epidemic not only on national but on the European levels as well in an interview with the European Post. "In normal circumstances, and in principle, I am strongly against that those who perform better automatically support all others. But for this pandemic circumstances, issuing a common debt instrument would send out a strong signal of unity and solidarity," he said.

FM regrets Slovenia's low defence spending in past

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Anže Logar expressed regret that Slovenia is lagging behind in NATO defence goals after taking part in a teleconferenced ministerial of the alliance, which focused on the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Talking over the phone to Slovenian reporters, he said that past governments should have given more funds to the military and regretted they had not carried out the planned military equipment acquisitions. He said the current would now have to meet the commitment.

Minister Hojs discusses border measures with Johansson

LJUBLJANA - Interior Minister Aleš Hojs talked with European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johannson on the telephone, briefing her on measures taken at the border to contain the coronavirus epidemic. He noted good cooperation with the neighbouring countries, in particular Austria and Hungary, on the coordination of transit of cargo vehicles. He told the commissioner that Slovenia would not allow a hold-up of a large number of lorries on its territory.

Group of Slovenians return from US

NEW YORK, US - A group of Slovenians from the US boarded a special Hungarian plane in New York on Wednesday. After landing in Budapest, they were to be transported to the Hungarian-Slovenian border, where they were to be tested before going into a 14-day isolation or quarantine in Slovenia. The flight was organised by Hungary for Hungarians in the US, while the Slovenian Foreign Ministry and Slovenian diplomatic representatives in the US negotiated for Slovenians to join them.

Proposal in works to allow remote parliament sessions

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly may start holding online sessions, under a proposal sent to deputy groups by Speaker Igor Zorčič. Changes to the rules and procedures are planned to allow MPs to participate in sessions remotely, while the speaker, at least, would be at the Parliament House. Only this way will the National Assembly be able to carry on in circumstances such as the coronavirus epidemic, Zorčič tweeted.

Telekom sees 2019 profit eroded by buyout of media arm

LJUBLJANA - Telekom Slovenije posted a group net profit of EUR 1.2 million for 2019, a fraction of the EUR 33.3 million it recorded a year before, largely due to a one-off payment over a now dissolved media joint venture. The company said that without the one-off charge for the media venture Antenna TV SL and the associated events it would have posted a 13% increase in like-for-like profit over the year before. Group net sales stood at EUR 675.4 million, which is 6% below the 2018 level.

NLB proposing no dividend payout for the time being

LJUBLJANA - The supervisory board of NLB okayed the proposal of the management board to convene a shareholders meeting for 15 June. The country's leading bank, which was privatised last year, announced shareholders would vote on a proposal that the entire EUR 228.04 million in distributable profit remain undistributed for the time being. "Depending on future developments, a partial payout of the profit could potentially still follow at the end of 2020 or later," the bank said.

Newspaper Delo and Siol news portal getting new chief editors

LJUBLJANA - Bojan Budja will take over as acting editor-in-chief of the daily Delo from Uroš Urbas on Friday. The publisher said he would also be acting editor-in-chief of the delo.si web portal and the weekly Nedelo, in addition to keeping his current job as the content boss of the tabloid Slovenske Novice. Meanwhile, Peter Jančič is to assume next week the post of editor-in-chief of the Siol.net news portal. Jančič was editor-in-chief at Delo in 2006-2007.

Hospital director resigns after contentious tweets

LJUBLJANA - Slovenj Gradec hospital director Janez Lavre resigned after finding himself in the limelight over a series of tweets which included threats to withhold coronavirus ventilator treatment to critics of the government. He said he was aware that the statements were inappropriate, offensive and unethical, and blamed them on the workload and mental stress in the face of events related to the handling of the Covid-19 epidemic. Health Minister Tomaž Gantar accepted the resignation.

High-school leaving exams not to delayed yet

LJUBLJANA - More than two weeks after schools in Slovenia switched to remote learning due to the Covid-19 epidemic, Education Minister Simona Kustec announced secondary school-leaving exams could not be carried out as scheduled. However, the National Exam Centre said that only the Slovenian language essay be moved from early May to 1 June, while the rest of matura exams would go ahead with the English exam on 30 May. It is not clear yet what happens with national exams at primary schools.

Poll shows increase in those deeming latest measures too strict

LJUBLJANA - The latest poll by Valicon suggests an increasing number of Slovenians deem the latest government measures to contain the coronavirus epidemic too rigid, with the proportion of those who think so increasing to more than 20% from 7% a week ago. Moreover, the share of those saying that the measures are not strict enough dropped from 40% to 27%. Most respondents (53%) still believe that the measures are appropriate. One out of seven believe the Covid-19 situation is improving.

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