Morning addresses for Slovenia: Tuesday, 16 November 2021
Check the date at the top of the page and you’ll find all the stories about “morning headlines”. here. You can also follow us on Facebook and get all the news in your feed.
This summary provides STA:
The number of Covid beds rose to 1,200
LJUBLJANA – Slovenian hospitals are increasing the bed capacity for patients with covid to around 1,200, of which 280 in intensive care units, as they are facing a growing number of patients in the middle of the fourth wave of the epidemic. The number of hospitalizations for covid increased to 1,008, 229 were treated in intensive care, as another 1,815 people were positive on Sunday, and 11 patients died. According to the National Institutes of Public Health, the 7-day average of new cases increased by 76 from the day before to 3,224 and the 14-day incidence per 100,000 people by 27 to 2,030.
The Prime Minister says that the main problem is the parallel mechanisms that control the situation
LJUBLJANA – When asked by the National Assembly about corruption and accusations that the country is run by the mafia, Prime Minister Janez Janša told MPs that Slovenia’s main problems today stem from the “UDBA mafia” or, as newly established, parallel mechanisms that manage much of it. systems and subsystems without elections and without legitimacy. ” Janša thus answered the question of the opposition Left Matej T. Vatovec, who said that the Democratic Party (SDS), when it was in opposition, presented itself as a party that would eliminate corruption in Slovenia.
The Prime Minister says that tax evasion is not the essence of leaking the Vizjak tape
LJUBLJANA – Prime Minister Janez Janša assured MPs during his questions that the government does not support tax evasion when he commented on the minister’s controversial statements in a conversation with a strong businessman 14 years ago. He said taxes are not at the heart of the matter. Opposition party Alenka Bratušek (SAB) MP Marko Bandelli was challenged to tell Janša what message Andrej Vizjak, the current Minister of the Environment, had sent, revealing the revealed video because he told the president of the spa company Terme Čatež in 2007. that it was “stupid” to pay taxes. Jansa said he did not support calls for tax evasion.
During his visit to Luxembourg, Pahor confirmed good bilateral relations
LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg – President Borut Pahor met in Luxembourg with Fernando Etgen, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Jean Asselborn, Foreign Minister. Acknowledging the excellent relations between the two countries, officials shared similar views on the EU’s core values, including the rule of law and freedom of the media. Pahor emphasized that Luxembourg has been an important ally and friend since Slovenia’s independence. On Sunday, Pahor met with former European Commission President and longtime Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker and current Prime Minister Xavier Bettel.
The center-left opposition is demanding clarification on energy staffing
LJUBLJANA – The center-left opposition has requested an emergency session of the parliamentary supervisory commission due to unprecedented political staffing in the energy sector. The fact that Robert Golob failed to confirm himself for another term as CEO of Gen-I without explanation and without the appointment of his successor is seen as a sign that the government is trying to destroy one of the largest and most successful energy companies in the world. state. In response, Minister of Infrastructure Jernej Vrtovec said that corporate governance in Slovenia was structured in such a way as to prevent political interference in the staffing and management of companies, for which the supervisory boards were in charge.
Supervisors deny that the director of Elektro Maribor was fired due to political pressure
MARIBOR – The supervisory board of the electricity distributor Elektro Maribor rejected allegations that politics was pressuring its members to dismiss longtime president Boris Sovič. “The decision was made solely on the basis of facts,” Chief Supervisor Samo Iršič told reporters. Referring to corporate governance policy, Iršič said that “the supervisory board cannot and must not disclose new facts. However, we can say that there was no pressure on any member of the supervisory board, neither political nor any other.”
Poklukar at the top of the World Health Organization represents Slovenia’s fight against Covid
GENEVA, Switzerland – At a virtual summit of the World Health Organization on health policy-making, Janez Poklukar presented Slovenia’s experience in implementing “effective and innovative evidence-based” measures at various stages of the Covid-19 epidemic. Poklukar, who participated in the panel discussion of health ministers on behalf of the WHO European Region and as a representative of the Slovenian Presidency of the EU, highlighted the role and work of the Covid-19 working group and enhanced inter-ministerial cooperation in Slovenia.
The contradictory supervisor checks the preparation of proposals for amendments to the Construction Act
LJUBLJANA – After receiving a report that the Neffat Law Firm, which has a contract to prepare amendments to the Construction Act, will also represent DeSUS MP Branko Simonovič, who could use these changes to legalize a house he illegally built on coast. The Commission will examine whether there are suspected infringements falling within its remit.
Revenues of the SIJ Steel Group increased by a third in the first nine months
LJUBLJANA – The steel group SIJ announced that in the first nine months of the year it increased sales revenues by 34.2 percent to 714.6 million euros, and EBITDA reached 73.5 million euros. In the period January-September, almost EUR 41.5 million was invested. In order to diversify its financing, SIJ is examining the possibility of a new, eighth issue of commercial papers. A final decision has not yet been made.
The NGO calls on the EU to do more after the failure of the Glasgow conference
LJUBLJANA – On Sunday after the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, the environmental NGO Umanotera called on the EU to increase its goal of reducing carbon emissions to at least 65% and achieve climate neutrality in the decade before the middle of the century. the organization’s findings did not meet high expectations. The measures in the national action plans proposed by the countries will continue to lead to an increase in emissions by 2030, the organization said.
Vox Populi poll: The ruling SDS would win the election over the opposition SD
LJUBLJANA – The ruling Democrats (SDS) would collect 17 percent of the vote in the general elections this Sunday, followed by the opposition Social Democrats (SD) with 13.9 percent and the Left with 8.1 percent, according to the latest Vox Populi poll. The share of undecided voters, however, increased to almost a third. The opposition Marjan Šarc List (LMŠ) with 7.3%, the coalition Nova Slovenija (NSi) with 6.6% and the opposition Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) with 4.3% would be in fourth place.
Ljubljana supplementary budget, a city by the end of the year with a deficit of 5 million euros
LJUBLJANA – The Ljubljana City Council approved a supplementary budget for this year, according to which the municipality will end 2021 with a deficit of 5.3 million euros instead of a surplus of 1.2 million euros. The head of the city’s finance department, Saša Bistan, said that revenues were set at 390 million euros and expenses at 395 million euros. This year, they are expected to earn 63 million euros with compensation for the use of building land, and revenues from the tourist tax are expected to amount to two million euros, one million less than in the previous budget.
After a 17-year search, a fugitive was found in Ghana
LJUBLJANA – After 17 years, the Slovenian police have completed the search for a 61-year-old fugitive convicted of fraud, as a Slovenian woman was recently found and arrested in Ghana in cooperation with foreign security authorities. She was extradited from the African country to Slovenia on 13 November and taken to the Ig prison. The Ljubljana District Court has been searching for the refugee since 2004, first as a witness, later for fraud, and in another case for serving a prison sentence, also for fraud. The woman had been living illegally in Ghana for ten years before her arrest.