Zdravko Pocivalsek

Belgrade – Slovenia and Serbia plan to hold a joint investment conference in summer or autumn, according to a report by the Serbian media following a meeting between Slovenian Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek and Serbian Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Tatjana Matić.

Brussels – Dutch MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld (Renew) has invited PM Janez Janša to Brussels to take part in a discussion on the media in Slovenia that is expected to take place in March, public broadcaster TV Slovenija reported on Monday.

Ljubljana – The heads of the junior coalition partners New Slovenia (NSi) and Modern Centre Party (SMC) have proposed to Prime Minister Janez Janša that the government invite an EU mission that would investigate the state of freedom of the press in Slovenia.

Ljubljana – The scandal of Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek attending a meeting in a restaurant and the subsequent cover-up has shown the modus operandi of the current government – when a coalition politician makes a mistake, the government does everything in its power to set laws and measures anew, Dnevnik says in Saturday’s commentary.

Ljubljana – Despite the ongoing ban on indoor food service, restaurants in Slovenia are allowed to serve business customers under certain conditions, a senior Economy Ministry official said Friday as he clarified government restrictions following uncertainty over what the indoor eating ban actually means.

Ljubljana – The Janez Janša government survived a motion of no confidence as only 40 MP voted in favour in a secret ballot on Monday, six too few. There were seven votes against and six invalid ballots, whereas the majority of the coalition MPs did not pick up the ballots.

Ljubljana – Janez Poklukar, the director of Slovenia’s largest hospital UKC Ljubljana, has been nominated for health minister nearly two months after the resignation of Tomaž Gantar.

“Poklukar will be the new health minister,” Prime Minister Janez Janša announced on Twitter on Friday after formally submitting the nomination to the National Assembly.

Ljubljana – The Health Inspectorate has received several complaints and is looking into an event Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek attended on Friday in the aftermath of media reports suggesting that the meeting may not have been held in compliance with coronavirus restrictions.

Ljubljana – Additional stores are expected to reopen on Tuesday following the government’s recent decision to allow in-person shopping in all stores under 400 square metres. Although the decree took effect on Saturday, most stores have postponed the reopening until today since they had trouble providing the required testing for their staff.

Podlehnik – Economy Minister Zdravko Počivalšek announced additional relaxations of Covid restrictions in business on the sidelines of his visit to Podlehnik in the north-east on Friday. Stores and repair shops up to 400 square metres will reopen next week, provided that staff get tested for coronavirus weekly, he said.