AGP Executive Report

Slovenian Politics: A right-wing coalition deal is signed and former PM Janez Janša is set to return, with lawmakers expected to vote as early as tomorrow—while two appeals to the Constitutional Court over the 22 March election are already being framed by the new camp as a “coup attempt,” and the outgoing coalition wants a fast ruling. EU–Israel Fallout: The Ben-Gvir flotilla taunts have triggered a fresh diplomatic backlash: EU pressure for sanctions, ambassadors summoned across Europe, and Ireland pushing progress on its “Occupied Territories Bill” in the coming weeks. Energy & Industry: NGEN secured a €70m EBRD loan to expand battery storage across Poland, Romania, Latvia and Slovenia, and Slovenia is also extending state incentives for energy storage systems. Economy: Slovenia is moving to keep the 2026 deficit under the EU 3% limit. Culture & Sports: North Macedonia announces it will rejoin Eurovision in 2027 after a four-year absence; in football, Liverpool agree a free transfer for Slovenia defender Sara Agrez.

Constitutional Court Challenge: A group of 30 prominent citizens led by former health minister Dušan Keber has filed appeals alleging violations of the right to free and democratic elections, while rapper Darko Nikolovski is preparing a separate complaint over alleged foreign interference. Election Fallout: The same week also saw fresh claims around the Black Cube scandal, with Truth MPs alleging attempted bribery/undue influence and the National Security Council briefed on a forensic report pointing to “well-founded grounds” of serious criminal offences. EU Politics: Austria, Czechia, Italy, Slovakia and Slovenia are pushing a “step-by-step” plan to give EU candidate countries phased access to the single market once they meet sector rules. World Bee Day, Slovenia in the spotlight: Slovenia-linked pollinator work continues to dominate coverage, from the Golden Bee Award for Asian hornet eradication to World Bee Day events. Israel Flotilla Backlash: Global condemnation of Israel’s treatment of flotilla activists escalated, with multiple countries summoning ambassadors.

College Sports Clash: LSU coach Will Wade is drawing fresh fire for recruiting moves that blur NCAA lines, with Florida’s Todd Golden calling it “not what college athletics is supposed to be” after reports of high-priced pro-linked signings. EU Enlargement Push: Austria, Czechia, Italy, Slovakia and Slovenia want Western Balkan candidates to enter the EU single market step by step, sector by sector, with access potentially reversible if reforms slip. Craft Protection: Porcelaine de Limoges becomes the first craft to get EU-wide geographical protection under the new CIGI scheme, extending heritage safeguards across all 27 member states. Beekeeping Row in Maribor: World Bee Day events in Maribor go ahead without the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association, which is boycotting over alleged fake honey. Ljubljana Politics: Freedom Movement leader Zoran Stevanović backs merging two Black Cube scandal inquiries, while prosecutors are also briefed on the probe’s forensic findings. Energy Diplomacy: Hungary’s PM Péter Magyar starts a Poland reset in Warsaw, with talk of EU energy diversification and potential LNG routes via Poland.

Slovenia’s Right-Wing Comeback: Janez Janša has submitted his candidacy for prime minister, setting up a new right-leaning coalition and a return to power for the veteran populist after the liberal Freedom Movement failed to form a government. Coalition Math: Reports say Janša has backing from 48 MPs, with the Democrats and Truth expected to play key roles—while Večer warns the “Trojan horse” dynamic isn’t as surprising as some claim. Pre-Change Tensions: The police trade union is protesting proposed job restructuring at the top, alleging it’s timed to benefit specific insiders. Western Balkans EU Push: Austria, Italy, Czechia, Slovakia and Slovenia are floating a “step-by-step” single-market access model to keep enlargement momentum and reduce Western Balkans drift toward Russia. Eurovision Fallout: Spain’s PM backs its Eurovision boycott over Israel’s Gaza war, while the contest’s politics keep spilling into audiences and broadcasters. Human Rights Spotlight: Sahrawi activist Aminatou Haidar wrapped up a Slovenia Parliament visit, pressing for attention to Western Sahara’s occupation.

Government Switch Looms: Janez Janša has been nominated for Slovenia’s next prime minister, with coalition talks moving fast after his SDS secured backing in Parliament—setting up a right-wing return and a likely shift from Robert Golob’s liberal line. Coalition & Pushback: The Freedom Movement is still floating a short-term technocratic alternative, while Freedom accuses rightist parties of undermining law enforcement and the Truth party raises concerns about undue influence around MPs. Security & Integrity Row: The police union is warning against planned job restructuring at the top, alleging favouritism ahead of the handover. Foreign Policy Spotlight: Sahrawi activist Aminatou Haidar wrapped up a visit to Slovenia’s Parliament and university events, renewing calls to decolonize Western Sahara and highlighting alleged human-rights violations. EU/Global Watch: The US Senate approved Asel Roberts as ambassador to Slovenia, while Slovenia also sent 1,000 first-aid kits to UN peacekeepers in Central Africa. Culture Noise: Eurovision’s Bulgaria win still reverberates locally, with the Israel participation controversy dominating the debate.

Human Rights Diplomacy: Sahrawi defender Aminatou Haidar arrived in Ljubljana to press Slovenia on Moroccan violations in Western Sahara, meeting parliament and civil society as stalled UN efforts weigh on civilians. EU Enlargement Politics: North Macedonia’s President Siljanovska-Davkova urged Slovenia to back EU integration without “identity” bargaining, framing enlargement as both political and security policy. Coalition Shake-up in Slovenia: SDS confirmed a coalition agreement and is set to nominate Janez Janša prime minister-designate, while the Freedom Movement backs a short-lived technocratic government idea. Rule-of-Law Tension: Slovenia’s ombudsman warned against “lawfare” to silence critics after a Truth party MP filed criminal charges against an activist. Business & Tech: Ljubljana-based DDD Invoices raised €1.31m seed funding to keep e-invoices compliant as governments push real-time reporting to tax portals. Public Debate & Culture: Eurovision fallout continues to spill into politics, with Slovenia and others tied to the wider Israel-related boycott row.

EU Court Clash: The European Commission reiterated support for the ICC and condemned “attacks or threats” after US sanctions against ICC figures, while refusing to comment on the Albanese case. Slovenia’s Energy Push: Slovenia is rolling out a new electricity-sharing system for prosumers from July, letting solar owners share surplus power across the country via 15-minute settlement periods. Labour Rights Fight: SDS and NSi filed a bill to scrap the automatic wage deduction of trade union dues. Regional Energy Economics: A Belgrade panel warns the EU’s CBAM carbon border tax is already destabilising electricity trading in the Western Balkans, cutting liquidity and cross-border trade. Public Life & Values: Ljubljana and Budapest mayors backed pride parades as a democracy measure, rejecting bans. Health & Access: Greece extended its strict “5/11” reimbursement filter, raising fresh fears of delayed access to innovative medicines. Crime Crackdown: Europol backed a multi-country operation dismantling a €240m fake medicines network.

Eurovision Fallout: Bulgaria’s Dara won Eurovision 2026 in Vienna with “Bangaranga,” taking 516 points and beating Israel’s Noam Bettan (second, 343) in a final dominated by Gaza-linked protests and a five-country boycott that also left the UK’s “Look Mum No Computer” on nul points. EU Politics: The dispute fed into wider tensions over how the European Broadcasting Union handled Israel’s participation, with broadcasters and governments publicly splitting over what “neutral” culture should mean. Sports Glance: Across the Atlantic, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander repeated as NBA MVP, becoming the 14th player to win back-to-back awards. Local Angle: Slovenia’s business scene continues to wrestle with labour shortages and rising costs as SMEs push the green and digital shift—an issue that will shape how the country competes long after the Eurovision lights fade.

Eurovision Shockwave: Bulgaria’s Dara won Eurovision 2026 in Vienna with “Bangaranga,” beating Israel’s Noam Bettan to first place in a final dominated by protests and a five-country boycott over Israel’s Gaza war. Boycott Fallout: Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Iceland and Slovenia skipped the contest and some broadcasters refused to air it, while inside the arena Bettan faced boos and Palestinian flags as the public vote repeatedly reshuffled the leaderboard. Local Angle for Slovenia/Croatia: Amid the wider European backlash, BDS activists say solidarity work is expanding fast—Fiona Ben Chekroun recently met Palestine-support groups in Ljubljana, Rijeka and Zagreb to discuss how campaigns are growing across the region. Business Pressure: Separately, Slovenia’s SMEs are pushing through labour shortages, higher costs and new green/digital demands, with the Enterprise Fund warning smaller firms are under the most strain.

Eurovision Aftershock: Bulgaria won Eurovision 2026 in Vienna for the first time, with Dara’s “Bangaranga” beating Israel’s Noam Bettan (“Michelle”) into second place—an outcome that landed in the middle of a Gaza-fuelled boycott and protests. Boycott Fallout: Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia and the Netherlands stayed away, and even inside the arena Israel’s big public-vote surge drew boos and Palestinian flags, while organizers faced fresh scrutiny over how politics keeps swallowing the show. Local Angle for Slovenia: Slovenia’s broadcaster boycott put the country directly in the centre of the dispute, and the final’s politics also reignited debate about whether Eurovision should ever be “just music.” Tech & Drama: The night also featured last-minute staging glitches for Czechia, plus rehearsals for “fake boos” as Israel’s act prepared for a hostile reception. Regional Ripples: Croatia’s 12 points to Serbia (and Serbia’s zero back) added another reminder that Balkan voting can still carry more than melody.

Eurovision Fallout: Vienna’s grand final goes ahead tonight with 25 acts, but the show is still shadowed by a record boycott over Israel’s participation in the Gaza war. Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland are out—and some broadcasters won’t air the contest at all—while organisers insist Eurovision is “apolitical” and say they’re ready for fresh disruptions. Political Pressure: Eurovision’s executive director Martin Green has also stirred fresh anger by saying Russia could “theoretically” return if its broadcaster meets rules, undercutting the contest’s neutrality message. Local Governance: In Ljubljana, the Human Rights Ombudsman says the right to a decent burial is a fundamental human right, after a centre-right coalition drafted a bill to formalise obligations for post-war summary killing victims. EU Enlargement: Seven EU states urged faster Western Balkan accession, warning candidate countries must still meet EU rules.

Eurovision Final, Vienna: The 70th Eurovision grand final is under way with 25 acts battling for the crown, but the night is still defined by the Gaza-linked boycott: Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland and the Netherlands have pulled out, while protests in Vienna’s streets and “No Stage for Genocide” events keep the spotlight on Israel’s participation. On-stage friction: Friday’s grand-final rehearsal was briefly derailed when a curtain failed to open, forcing a restart, and some props arrived late, leaving presenters to improvise. Local angle for Slovenia: Slovenia’s public broadcaster RTVS has said it will not air the contest, instead running “Voices of Palestine.” Regional mobility: Away from the politics, the Adriatic Express returns for summer 2026 with direct Czech–Adriatic overnight trains, now also connecting to Koper for the first time. Slovenia economy: Q1 growth hit 3% year-on-year, with consumption up and investment in buildings surging, though the central bank warns Middle East uncertainty could weigh on the rest of the year.

Eurovision Fallout: Vienna’s grand final rehearsal hit a snag when a curtain failed to open, forcing organisers to restart the opening segment; props also arrived late for Romania’s Alexandra Căpitănescu, leaving presenters to improvise. Israel vs. the Contest: Noam Bettan qualified after earlier boos and “stop the genocide” chants, as protests and boycotts keep turning the show into a political flashpoint. UK Jury Spotlight: Drag performer La Voix is confirmed as the UK’s first “spokesqueen,” announcing national jury results live in Saturday’s final. Slovenia at Home: Slovenia’s economy grew 3% year-on-year in Q1, with exports and investment lifting the rebound, though the central bank warns the rest of the year may face pressure. Justice Track: 36 countries signed up for a special tribunal to prosecute Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, with Slovenia among the supporters. Local Culture: Ljubljana designer Tomato Košir won an ADC Gold Cube for newspaper cover work.

Eurovision Aftermath: Delta Goodrem has blasted Australia into the Eurovision final with “Eclipse,” ending a two-year non-qualification streak as the final lineup was locked in after Thursday’s semi-final. Vienna Protests: The Israel row stayed front and center—security removed disruptive protesters during Israel’s run, while flags and booing were still allowed, keeping the contest’s “music only” promise under strain. Local Angle: Slovenia’s public broadcaster boycott debate is echoed by the wider European split, with Slovenia named among the five countries that stayed away from the show. Regional Media Watch: In the Balkans, a leaked deal says United Group’s media assets could be sold to a fund linked to Orbán’s political orbit—raising fresh alarms about pressure on independent reporting. Ljubljana Culture: A ceramics triennial opened in Ljubljana, alongside SAZU leadership news with Franc Forstnerič elected president.

Eurovision in Vienna: The second semi-final is underway as protests over Israel’s participation keep spilling into the arena. Israeli singer Noam Bettan says he chose to focus on “a huge wave of love and support” after “stop the genocide” chants and four protesters were removed for disruption. EU foreign policy & justice: Switzerland is set to join the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Russian Aggression against Ukraine, with a formal vote due May 15. Pro-Palestine mobilization: Brussels is preparing a major Palestine demonstration on May 17 calling for an end to trade agreements with Israel and an arms embargo. Slovenia domestic: Government reintroduces a partial environmental tax on fuels (price-neutral adjustment) while cutting petrol excise duty; it also approved EUR 30m aid via Borzen for energy-intensive firms. Culture & institutions: Ljubljana hosts a ceramics triennial opening; mathematician Franc Forstnerič was elected new SAZU president. Media & rights: CME joined an anti-piracy coalition (ACE).

Eurovision Fallout: Israel’s Noam Bettan reached the final in Vienna despite boos and “stop the genocide” chants, with security removing four people after attempts to disrupt the performance; the EBU says it kept the focus on music and even stripped the protest audio from the online upload. BDS Momentum: BDS co-coordinator Fiona Ben Chekroun toured Ljubljana, Rijeka and Zagreb, describing an “exponential growth” in Palestine solidarity and pushing boycott/divestment/sanctions campaigns in Slovenia and Croatia. EU Enlargement Talk: In Bratislava, Slovenia’s EU enlargement agenda got a spotlight as Slovakia’s PM Robert Fico met Commissioner Marta Kos, backing Western Balkan accession while defending veto rights. Banking Deal Watch: Ljubljana’s NLB published the prospectus for a renewed voluntary takeover of Austria’s Addiko at €29/share, aiming for 75% control. Local Memory Politics: Slovenia is also seeing renewed debate over post-WWII remembrance, including a bill proposal tied to Ljubljana’s central cemetery.