Janez

Brussels – Defence Minister Matej Tonin said on Thursday that Slovenian soldiers remain in Mali for now and continue training Mali troops. The statement comes after France announced its troops would withdraw from this African country, where Slovenia currently has nine soldiers in the EU Training Mission (EUTM).

Ljubljana – The Left has withdrawn its motion for a consultative referendum on changes to the income tax act, as the government had indicated the referendum could be held on the same day as the general election. Left coordinator Luka Mesec said the party did not want to enable the government to build its election campaign on “promises of higher wages.”

Ljubljana – Prime Minister Janez Janša said on Saturday that Slovenia was monitoring with concern the concentration of the Russian troops on the border with Ukraine. He spoke on the phone with Ukrainian counterpart Denis Shmygal to “express support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the right of every country to choose its alliance.”

Ljubljana – Prime Minister Janez Janša self-tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday. He posted a photo of a positive test result on Twitter, saying he had all the symptoms typical of Covid-19, although mild.

Janša said that his family had successfully avoided coronavirus for two years until Tuesday, when his two sons had self-tested positive, while his test had been negative.

Ljubljana/Kranj/Vrba – Despite restrictions limiting gatherings and the cancellation of several long-standing events, Slovenians flocked to cultural institutions and points of interest on Tuesday to celebrate Culture Day, a public holiday in memory of the great Romantic poet France Prešeren.

Ljubljana – Prime Minister Janez Janša spoke for the Italian public broadcaster Rai on Thursday evening to note that, when it comes to the situation in Ukraine, Slovenia shares with other European countries the concern for peace in the eastern neighbourhood. He also discussed the EU enlargement to the Western Balkans and relations between Slovenia and Italy.

Ljubljana – Europa Donna Slovenija, the Slovenian branch of the European breast cancer coalition, has established a fund to support research into reproductive cancers, which is seen as key in the efforts to reduce breast and gynaecological cancers.

Ljubljana – Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek said he would strive for the state to exercise the pre-emptive right to a 43% stake in the tourism company Sava, which the private equity fund York has agreed to sell to Prestige, a company backed by a Hungarian fund. The final decision will be made after talks with the buyer and the relevant state institutions.

Ljubljana – Prime Minister Janez Janša paid a visit to Banka Slovenije on Tuesday after Slovenia’s central bank recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. He received a gold medal that represents the “connection between the central bank and the country”, the prime minister’s office said.

Ljubljana – Prime Minister Janez Janša expressed disappointment in parliament on Monday that some should be unhappy about the good economic results posted by Slovenia, urging the opposition to compete in who does better rather than doubt about incontrovertible facts.