Janez

Ljubljana – The Constitutional Court has rejected an appeal by former PM Janez Janša against the statute barring of the Patria defence deal bribery case. While Janša felt denied a chance to prove his innocence, the top court claims he had no legal interest, as statute barring is fully equivalent to an acquittal, meaning he is considered innocent.

Ljubljana – Reporter writes in its latest editorial that Prime Minister Robert Golob is denying with his decisions and acts the false accusations from the opposition that Slovenia is turning towards Moscow under the new government and that he is a Tojan Horse of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ljubljana – The opposition Democrats (SDS) have strongly condemned a letter Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon has addressed to RTV Slovenija director general Andrej Grah Whatmough urging him to reconsider his plan to cut the public broadcaster’s international network of correspondents. The SDS sees her move as unacceptable political pressure.

Ljubljana/Brussels – Prime Minister Robert Golob will start his two-day visit to Brussels on Thursday to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel. The PM’s first visit abroad after assuming office will be mainly aimed at preparations for next week’s EU summit that will focus on Ukraine.

Ljubljana – Ljubljana is hosting from 14 to 17 June the annual Velo-City event, also known as the world cycling summit, where advocates, cities, decision makers, researchers and industry leaders meet to discuss the future of cycling and promote cycling as a sustainable and healthy means of transport.

Ljubljana – The coalition Freedom Movement and the Left are reserved about both appeals public figures have addressed to the government regarding Slovenia’s stance on the war in Ukraine, while the two opposition parties have expressed unequivocal support for today’s cross-partisan open letter calling for stronger support for Ukraine.

Ljubljana – The Freedom Movement has gained 4.6 percentage points to 31% in the June poll commissioned by the newspaper Delo to extend its margin ahead of the Democratic Party (SDS) to 9.5 points, despite the opposition party reaching its high watermark.

Annecy – Slovenian rider Primož Roglič won the eight-day Criterium du Dauphine road cycling race after letting Jumbo Visma teammate Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark take the final mountain stage between Saint-Alban-Leysse and Plateau de Salaison.

Kočevski Rog – Victims of post-WWII summary executions were honoured on Saturday with a ceremony in Kočevski Rog, an area in south Slovenia where multiple mass graves have been discovered. Novo Mesto Bishop Andrej Saje and President Borut Pahor called for efforts towards reconciliation.

Washington – The US Office of International Religious Freedom published its 2021 religious freedom report on Thursday, noting religious communities’ concerns in Slovenia about several loopholes and pending requests, including those related to halal meals, male circumcision and a lack of certain religious staff in the military.