News roundup - Saturday, 27 April

Slovenia commemorates WWII resistance movement

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia celebrated the Day of Uprising Against Occupation, a holiday honouring the resistance against Nazi and Fascist occupation during WWII. A number of ceremonies took place around the country last evening, including the main state ceremony in Črnomelj. Keynote speaker, National Assembly President Marko Lotrič said it was imperative to understand the events WWII and not to simplify history. He expressed hope that history will no longer be abused for political purposes.

Pahor working on outline for Belgrade and Prishtina dialogue

LJUBLJANA - Former President Borut Pahor posted on X that he was working on a draft outline for the continuation of dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtina as part of his efforts to vie for the role of a special representative of the EU for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and other Western Balkan issues. He said he wished to coordinate the outline with the EU's High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, the EU member states and above all the Quint countries, meaning the US, the UK, France, Italy and Germany.

Slovenian Embassy in Washington vandalised

WASHINGTON, US - Slovenian Embassy in Washington, D.C., was vandalised Friday evening. The suspected perpetrator has been apprehended and while the motive is not yet clear, the authorities are treating the event as an isolated incident. The vandal shattered some of the windows and glass doors on the first floor of the three-storey building in the Kalorama Heights diplomatic quarter. No members of staff were injured in the incident.

Slovenia condemns vandalism of Partisan and anti-Fascist memorials in Italy

LJUBLJANA - The Foreign Ministry condemned vandalism of monuments commemorating fallen Slovenian and Italian Partisans and anti-Fascist near Rome and in Trieste on the eve of the Italian Liberation Day, observed on 25 April. The ministry said in a post on X it expects that the relevant Italian authorities will find the perpetrators and take appropriate action.

Poll: SDS to double number of MEPs

LJUBLJANA - The most recent poll released by the commercial broadcaster POP TV shows that the Democrats (SDS) would get four of Slovenia's nine seats in the EU parliament, two more than they currently hold. The Freedom Movement would get two seats, and one each would go to New Slovenia (NSi), the non-parliamentary Vesna party and the SocDems (SD). While the number of MEPs of the Freedom Party and NSi would remain unchanged, the SD would lose one seat, while for Vesna this would be the first major breakthrough.

Akrapovič partners with Ferrari and Lamborghini for endurance racing

ČRNOMELJ/IVANČNA GORICA - Slovenian exhaust maker Akrapovič has signed a multi-year contract with the Italian car maker Ferrari to supply the Ferrari Hypercar programme, after striking a similar partnership with Lamborghini in February. This has opened the doors for the company to endurance car races, including the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.