Janez

Ljubljana – The National Assembly is meeting for its first regular session this year Monday to tackle some contentious bills, including amendments to the gaming act, a bill to tackle the issue of Swiss franc loans and changes to the communicable diseases act. The MPs will also decide whether to withdraw the much criticised amendments to the penal code.

Brussels – Janez Lenarčič, Slovenia’s European commissioner, told Slovenian correspondents in Brussels on Friday that the European Commission’s work was currently most affected by the Ukraine crisis. It is preparing for all possible scenarios, hoping that reason will prevail and peace will be preserved, he stressed.

Ljubljana – The government has confirmed a EUR 200 million package of aid for households and companies to mitigate energy-price hikes. An EUR 106 million energy voucher scheme for households will be coupled with aid for companies and farmers worth EUR 70 million, lower network fees for electricity, and lower excise duties on heating oil and petrol.

Brdo pri Kranju – President Borut Pahor and Prime Minister Janez Janša highlighted Slovenia’s good relations with all of its neighbours as they hosted the annual reception for the diplomatic corps at Brdo pri Kranju on Tuesday, which was attended by some 85 diplomats accredited to Slovenia. Pahor also discussed relations with Russia and China.

Ljubljana – President Borut Pahor has said as he responded to PM Janez Janša’s statements about China and Taiwan that ever since Slovenia and China established diplomatic relations, Slovenia has consistently advocated a one-China principle, a principle the EU is also bound to.

Ljubljana – A firefighters’ trade union is critical of the government-proposed changes to the fire service act, as it says it was not involved in the drafting of the amendments. Some of the proposals that had already been coordinated with the competent ministry in the past have been dropped from the latest version, the union noted.

Beijing – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China labelled on Wednesday Prime Minister Janez Janša’s statements about Taiwan as “dangerous”, and expressed strong opposition. The reaction comes after Janša said in Monday’s interview with an Indian TV station that Slovenia and Taiwan were discussing setting up mutual representation offices.

Ljubljana – The Credentials and Privileges Commission proposed that the National Assembly appoint to the programme council and supervisory board of public broadcaster RTV Slovenija five candidates each who had been proposed by the coalition, the Pensioners’ Party (DeSUS) and the opposition National Party (SNS) much to the chagrin of the centre-left opposition.

Ljubljana – The National Assembly is meeting for an eventful plenary session tomorrow that will culminate on Friday and next Monday with debates and votes on the opposition-sponsored motions to oust Environment Minister Andrej Vizjak and Interior Minister Aleš Hojs.

Rome – The council of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) discussed on Saturday the merger of the Slovenian coalition Modern Centre Party (SMC) with the Economically Active Party (GAS) into Concretely. It decided that this effectively ended the membership of the SMC in ALDE, and that the new party could again apply for membership.