Zdravko

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.

Ljubljana – The opposition Social Democrats (SD), Marjan Šarec List (LMŠ), the Left and the Alenka Bratušek Party (SAB) have filed an ouster motion against Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti. Talking to the press on Friday, opposition MPs listed a number of arguments, among them ineffective Covid crisis measures in the culture sector.

Ljubljana – The Slovenian Journalists’ Association (DNS) and the Trade Union of Slovenian Journalists (SNS) have come out strongly against what they see as censorship following media reports that some government officials and advisers failed to get clearance from the Government Communication Office (UKOM) to appear on news shows. UKOM rejected the claims.

Brdo pri Kranju – The leaders of coalition parties stressed on Thursday their commitment to continue working together as the government faces a vote of no-confidence in parliament. They plan to analyse the situation by 15 February, according to Prime Minister Janez Janša. A cabinet reshuffle is also possible.

Ljubljana – Four opposition parties have filed a motion to oust Education, Science and Sport Minister Simona Kustec over what they see as “unprofessional and harmful policies” in organising child care and education during the epidemic, which has led to the longest school and kindergarten closure in Europe. She was urged to resign before the vote.

Ljubljana – The government has not yet okayed this year’s call for applications to enrol in university courses in what the Slovenian Student Organisation (ŠOS) sees as an encroachment upon tertiary education autonomy. The University of Ljubljana management thinks the procedure could be jeopardised, a risk Prime Minister Janez Janša dismissed.

Ljubljana – Interior Ministry State Secretary Anton Olaj was relieved of his duties as state secretary and appointed the new police commissioner. He will take over for five years on Friday, the Government Communication Office said after the government session on Thursday.