Borut Pahor

Ljubljana – President Borut Pahor and Kosovo counterpart Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu agreed in Ljubljana on Monday that relations between the two countries are excellent and expressed the wish to continue this way. Both leaders see a peaceful and secure future for the Western Balkans in the context of European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

Belgrade – President Borut Pahor has noted in an interview with Monday’s issue of the Serbian newspaper Politika that the EU not wanting or being unable to establish greater presence in the Western Balkans will have consequences. He said he will continue to work for the EU accession prospects of the Western Balkans and expressed understanding for Serbia.

Ljubljana – Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu will be in Slovenia on Monday and Tuesday, discussing her country’s expectations about joining the EU and NATO, dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtina, and the situation in the Western Balkans.

Slovenska Bistrica – President Borut Pahor decorated on Saturday a former Territorial Defence unit based in Slovenjska Bistrica with the Order of Freedom for having taken over a weapons facility from the Yugoslav National Army (YNA) during Slovenia’s 1991 Independence War, a move that greatly contributed to Slovenia’s success in the war.

Ljubljana – The latest Mladina editorial says Janšism is the main problem of Slovenian society and of any government that tries to oppose it, adding that PM Robert Golob does not have a single political heavyweight by his side who has already fought political battles with his predecessor Janez Janša. The coalition should take initiative, it notes.

Ljubljana – Jana Ahčin, a former director of the Financial Administration (FURS), was appointed Court of Audit president in a secret vote in the National Assembly on Friday in which she received 60 votes. She will take over for nine years as the court’s first woman president, replacing Tomaž Vesel, whose term expired at the end of May.

Ljubljana – Marta Kos, vice-president of the Freedom Movement, has officially announced her bid for the presidency of the republic. She will run as her party’s candidate, while the other two coalition parties said following her announcement on Tuesday that they would likely run with candidates of their own.

Ljubljana – Delo notes in Monday’s commentary that President Borut Pahor’s speech at the Statehood Day ceremony was his last major speech in his long political career, signalling the end of an era.

Ljubljana – The first monthly approval rating of the Robert Golob government stands at 53.1%, about eight points higher than the rating the Janez Janša government had right after it took office, according to a poll run by POP TV.

Almost a third of respondents, 31.6%, oppose the current government, whereas just over 15% are undecided.

Ljubljana – In an interview with the public broadcaster, President Borut Pahor has talked about the international circumstances, noting that the government is in for deliberation about how to remain an ally in helping Ukraine, while wisely “regulating sanctions so that we can help ourselves”. He also spoke about the long-term prospects of the new cabinet.