Slovenia Elects New President As Borut Pahor Unseats Türk in Landslide
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06 ISSN 1854-0805 December 2012 The latest from Slovenia Slovenia Elects New President as Borut Pahor Unseats Türk in Landslide • INTERVIEW: Vojmir Urlep • ART & CULTURE: Autumn in the Spirit of Design • OUR EXCELLENCE: DEWESOFT • PEOPLE: Kamila Volčanšek • SPORTS: EuroBasket 2013 in Slovenia less than a year away contents editorial 5 In focus The priorities of the establishment of the Slovenian Sovereign Holding Slovenia’s Development Strategy until 2020 Events that marked the Government’s work in the previous year 14 Interview Vojmir Urlep 18 Vesna Žarkovič, Editor Business 20 Best Wishes for the New Year A letter In focus Interview New Year’s celebrations in Brazil Slovenia elected its fourth President of the Republic on 2 December. In the Christmas in Japan second round of the fifth presidential elections, marked by the lowest ever voter 22 turnout, Borut Pahor won a convincing victory over the incumbent President Art & culture of the Republic, Danilo Türk. Pahor, the youngest president in the history of Liffe, or a Time when Everybody is Talking the independent state, understands his election victory as a responsibility and about Films trusts he will be able to cope with it successfully. He described his victory as the beginning of a new period, one which he hoped would be agreed upon by a broad Autumn in the Spirit of Design ... sweep of Slovenian politicians: “If and in as much as the party leaders think that I 27 can participate in this arrangement and even foster it, I will do so with the greatest Our excellence pleasure and bring all my experience to bear.” DEWESOFT – artists in their field of expertise We write about the events that marked the Government’s work in the 30 previous year. When starting its term of office in February 2012, the Janez Janša Green corner Green corner Government set itself two major goals – ensuring financial sustainability and The Čadrg Ecovillage promoting economic growth. The new Ministers, confronted with lack of funds in 32 their ministries’ budgets and the unrealistic budget for 2012, were well aware that People immediate action was in order; consequently, the Government adopted a series Kamila Volčanšek of austerity measures as well as a revision of the 2012 budget during the very first contents 36 semester of its term of office. In parallel it drafted measures to promote economic Sports growth and enhance the competitiveness of Slovenia’s economy. The Government is aware that problems that had been accumulating over a number of years cannot EuroBasket 2013 in Slovenia less than be eliminated overnight. Also for this reason, the adoption of the Balancing of People a year away Public Finance Act and revision of the 2012 national budget, based on austerity 40 measures, was one of the key actions during the Government’s first six months; Slovenian delights however, this is only the first step towards recovery. Culinary Adventures without Limits The Ministry of Economic Development and Technology approved an increase 44 in the amount allocated to the public tender for the promotion of foreign direct Society investments, implemented by the Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for ADRIA AIRWAYS, The Airline of Slovenia Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments (JAPTI). The public tender amount 46 has been increased to EUR 6,230,000 to provide co-funding for all investment Heritage project assessed as positive at the tender. The total amount of approved incentives In the Kingdom of Wine amounts to EUR 5.8 million, while the total value of investment projects stands at Art & culture EUR 34 million; it is planned that projects will generate 482 new jobs within three years of the completion of the investment. SINFO – SLOVENIAN INFORMATION Editorial: Government Communication Office, The European Basketball Championships will take place from 4 to 22 September Director: Anže Logar, Gregorčičeva 25, 1000 Ljubljana, 2013 in Slovenia, and the draw ceremony was held in Postojna Cave; Slovenia will tel. +386 (0) 1 478 2630, fax + 386 (0) 1 251 2312, www.ukom.gov.si Editor-in-Chief: Valerija Obu now pay half a million less than previously envisaged to the European Basketball Executive Editor: Vesna Žarkovič, [email protected] Federation, FIBA Europe. This reduction has been achieved by Anže Logar, Director Editorial Board: Mateja Malnar Štembal, Polona Prešeren, Nataša Marvin, Manja Kostevc of the Government Communication Office, after lengthy negotiations on behalf Photo Editor: Janez Vidrih of the Slovenian Government. The Communication Office of the Government of Production: Nuit d.o.o., Translation: Amidas, DZTPS, Government Translation and Interpretation Division the Republic of Slovenia decreased its share from the envisaged EUR 3.5 million Printed by: Collegium Graphicum d.o.o., Slovenia, Number of copies: 4600 to EUR 3 million and also negotiated a more favourable payment schedule. Fine Available also at: www.ukom.gov.si/eng/slovenia/publication/sinfo Cover photo: Darinka Mladenovič wine offers a unique harmony of taste, awakens the senses and connects people, to name only a few of its qualities. Slovenia has a long wine-making history and is Government Communication Office:www.slovenia.si Government Communication Office:www.ukom.gov.si a country of exceptional natural resources that enable the cultivation of different Government of the Republic of Slovenia: www.vlada.si grape varieties, including several indigenous ones. Making use of rich experience Slovenian Tourist Board: www.slovenia.info Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry: www.gzs.si and keeping abreast of new technology and marketing trends, Slovenian Slovenian Chamber of Craft: www.ozs.si winemakers are producing wine of competitive quality and entering the global Public Agency for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments: www.japti.si Ljubljana Stock Exchange: www.ljse.si market. The year is drawing to an end – so let’s pour a glass of fine wine and raise Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia:www.stat.si it in a toast to a stable and prosperous new year. All the best! State Portal of the Republic of Slovenia: http://e-uprava.gov.si Society Sports Heritage Sinfo – Slovenian information 3 : in focus : monthly commentary Government Communication Office, photo: STA Slovenia Elects New President as Borut Pahor Unseats Türk in Landslide The Social Democratic former Prime Minister Borut Pahor will be the new president of Slovenia, after he won presidential run-off in a landslide against the incumbent, Danilo Türk. Pahor will be sworn in on 22 December. Anže Logar, Director of the Government Communication Office WHO WOULD HAVE BELIEVED IT? Results from the National Electoral Commission show Pahor won effect on the outcome. The first reactions from politicians underline 67.4% of the vote. The turnout was 42%, the lowest on record for a the hope promulgated by Pahor that the “politics of divisions” will presidential election and six points below that in the first round. The end and a new era of unity ushered in. Janša congratulated Pahor on result is no surprise considering the polls before the run-off, but Türk the “excellent and convincing result”. “I thank him in particular be- We were all euphoric when Slovenia joined the EU entered the race in the summer as the clear front-runner, with Pahor cause he talked about things that are not popular but are necessary staging an upset in the first round on 11 November by upending the - winning support in spite of that.” He hinted that with election out in 2004. At the time, the phrase most commonly incumbent on a platform of cross-partisanship. In his first statement of the way, reforms would be back at the top of the political agenda, voiced by Slovenian politicians was: “Who in 1996, following the release of exit polls Pahor reiterated his central mes- not just economic reforms but reforms of the political system de- when Slovenia applied for the EU membership, sage of unity and cross-partisanship, one which he has used as a con- signed to eliminate blockades. He said that the “entire political estab- trast to Türk’s perceived divisiveness. “We need trust, mutual respect, lishment and the active citizenry” face the challenge in the “crucial believed that we would enjoy its full membership tolerance, readiness to listen. Irrespective of how big the differences weeks ahead” to implement “corrections to the political system” that just eight years later?” among us may be, the things that connect us are even stronger,” he will enable the elimination of blockades, in particular in the judi- said. While saying that he was also grappling with many questions, ciary. Parliament Speaker Gregor Virant, the head of the Citizens’ List Pahor said that he knew one important answer: “That all the worries, (DL) and a supporter of Pahor’s, described the outcome as a win for fears and lack of trust among us is accompanied by enough hope, centre-oriented, moderate and constructive politics. He feels Pahor’s strength and courage.” election will have a calming effect on the situation in the country. Türk conceded defeat and congratulated Pahor, but he refrained New Slovenia (NSi) deputy group leader Matej Tonin hopes Pahor will from analysing the reasons for the outcome. There are “plenty of be a president of all, while People’s Party (SLS) president Radovan qualified people to make political assessments, analysis and polls...I Žerjav said people “consciously stepped beyond partisan and ideo- In 2008, we repeated the question: “Who would have believed constitutional arrangements. The referendum procedure can have to be modest, I can’t immodestly assess this election”. Türk said logical divisions”. The head of the Pensioners’ Party (DeSUS) Karl that just four years after entering the EU we were to hold the EU be initiated in respect of practically any law, even the budget he would remain an “active citizen” after his term officially ends in Erjavec, who had supported Türk, said Pahor had the right qualities presidency?” implementation act.