Morning headlines for Slovenia: Saturday, March 26, 2022
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This summary provides STA:
Jansa deplores the political clashes over Hungary’s Ukrainian position
BRUSSELS, Belgium – Arriving on the 2nd day of the EU summit, Prime Minister Janez Jansa regretted political clashes over things he said were irrelevant in the war, commenting on criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over Hungary’s attitude towards Ukraine during the Russian invasion. “This is mainly political rhetoric, Hungary has so far not blocked any sanctions or other serious measures,” Jansa said after Zelensky Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban “decided which side the country is on”.
The Ukrainian war prevails in the first election debate
LJUBLJANA – The war in Ukraine and its impact on Slovenia prevailed in the first televised election debate, which was led by the public radio and television RTV Slovenia on Thursday evening. Parliamentary parties expressed differing views on NATO membership, but agreed that Slovenia must become self-sufficient in energy and food production. Opposition parties have criticized Prime Minister Janez Jansa’s trip to Kyiv and the decision to send a charge d’affaires to Kyiv.
Two candidates for Italian MP, three for Hungarian
KOPER / LENDAVA – Two candidates will run for the seat of the Italian minority in the National Assembly, and three for the Hungarian minority in the elections on April 24, including both presidents. Italian minority MP Felice Žiža will face longtime head of the umbrella minority organization Maurizio Tremul. Hungarian minority MP Ferenc Horvath will face Otto Močnik from the Hungarian Consulate in Lendava and Mihael Kasaš, head of the Lednava city administration.
A good country, our future, to run together in elections
LJUBLJANA – The non-parliamentary parties Dobra država and Naša Future will compete together in the general elections on April 24. The joint application was submitted together with two other political groups. Left MP Violeta Tomić and anti-masquerade rapper Zlatko are currently on the list of 78 candidates. Our future is led by Ivan Gale, who became famous as a whistleblower for buying medicines in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Good Country is the first group to secede from the party founded by former Prime Minister Miro Cerar.
Not all voters will be able to vote for the NGO in question
LJUBLJANA – The non-governmental organization Zavod on March 8 expressed concern over the new voting guidelines for people with coronavirus infection. They say self-isolated voters must register to vote at home by April 20, but the NGO has called on authorities to allow voting for all voters, including those whose infection will be confirmed after the deadline. The NGO noted that many European countries still allow voters with Covid to vote.
The Parsifal poll shows that the SDS is far ahead of the Freedom Movement
LJUBLJANA – The ruling Democrats (SDS) are far ahead of the Freedom Movement, according to the first in a series of daily polls conducted by Parsifal, published on Friday by Siol, Planet TV and Nova24TV. According to a 25% poll, the SDS has almost a nine-point advantage over the Freedom Movement. All other customers fall below 10%.
Young people in Ljubljana, Maribor and Koper are demanding action in the field of climate change
LJUBLJANA / MARIBOR / KOPER – Supporters of the Youth for Climate Justice movement gathered in Ljubljana, Maribor and Koper to let decision-makers know before the April elections that the planet must take precedence over capital. Young people also addressed a list of demands for a better future to mayors and parties vying for the upcoming elections. A member of the movement, Brina Jeretina, said that “as the elections approach, it is the right time to demand concrete measures from politicians that will ensure a fair and ambitious green transition in Slovenia”.
The number of coronavirus cases is declining
LJUBLJANA – On Thursday, Slovenia recorded 2,803 new cases of coronavirus infection, which is the first time in three weeks that the daily number decreased on the same day a week ago. Eight more Covid-19 patients died. The number of hospitals has declined slightly, with Covid-19 currently treating 173 patients, 32 of them in intensive care. Data from health authorities also show that the 7-day average of new cases is reduced to 2,878, as the 14-day incidence per 100,000 population is still at 1,792.
The government is providing new incentives for electricity production in households
LJUBLJANA – On Thursday, the government adopted a decree on self-sufficiency in electricity from renewable sources, which will abolish the concept of net metering for photovoltaic systems, which will be implemented from 2024 in accordance with the EU directive. The regulation also provides new ways to obtain incentives for self-sufficiency in electricity, following calls from several NGOs.
Rise in housing prices highest in 15 years
LJUBLJANA – Residential real estate prices jumped by 15.7 percent in 2021, which is the highest annual growth since 2007, when they recorded a 20.4 percent growth, according to data from the Statistical Office. Prices of new dwellings increased by 20.2%. Prices of second-hand dwellings increased by 18%, prices of second-hand houses went up by 11.9% and new family houses went up by 3.1%. The total value of all residential real estate sold last year increased by almost a third to 1.6 billion euros.
Business sentiment is deteriorating
LJUBLJANA – Business sentiment in Slovenia deteriorated in March after four consecutive months of growth due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its consequences and rising inflation. Data from the Statistical Office show that the index fell by 5.2 percentage points to 1.5 points since February. The index is still 2 points higher than in the same period last year. The 12-point drop in the consumer confidence sub-index had the biggest negative impact.
Pošta Slovenije records an increase in profit
MARIBOR – Last year, the state postal operator Pošta Slovenije generated EUR 17.6 million in net profit of EUR 461 million, which is more than EUR 12 million or 12% more than in 2020. The company said that that the numbers are significantly above the target. This year, the company intends to generate 482 million euros in revenue, of which 53 percent through logistics and parcel delivery services.
A larger wind farm is planned on the Pohorje plateau
SLOVENSKA BISTRICA – It seems that the Pohorje plateau attracts investors because of the potential for wind energy production. After five years of preparations, a large potential investment has been revealed by the company Energija na Veter, which would like to build 56 wind turbines on the part of Pohorje in the municipality of Slovenska Bistrica. Private investors are planning two projects with 35 and 21 3.5 MW turbines. The permitting process is still ongoing.
Six Slovenian cities want to become climate neutral by 2030
LJUBLJANA – Six Slovenian cities have responded to a call from the European Commission to prepare a list of the first 100 climate-neutral and smart cities. Among the 362 cities that applied for the tender are Ajdovščina, Izola, Kranj, Ljubljana, Maribor, Nova Gorica, Ormož and Velenje. Hundreds of cities will now be selected to monitor and support their transformation efforts by 2030. The list will be presented in April.
Slovenians swept the podium at the first match of the World Cup in Planica
PLANICA, 25 March (STA) – Slovenian ski jumpers won the podium in the first individual race of the World Cup finals, as Žiga Jelar won in front of Peter Prevec and Anže Lanišek. Timi Zajc was the fourth to complete the complete dominance of the home team over the powerful crowd at Planica. The last time they were the first four competitors in the World Cup in ski jumping from the same country in 1980.