JANEZ JANSA

Slovenia Election Opposition leader Robert Golob addresses members and supporters of the Freedom Movement as they celebrate in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Sunday, April 24, 2022, over a video broadcast, because of positive COVID test. Exit polls in Slovenia's parliamentary vote suggest a strong lead for the opposition liberals over the ruling right-wing populists of Prime Minister Janez Jansa. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) (Darko Bandic)LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — (AP) — The winner of last weekend's parliamentary election in Slovenia said Tuesday he hopes to have a new government formed by mid-June. Robert Golob, the leader of the Freedom Movement party, spoke after meeting with President Borut Pahor. Freedom Movement, a liberal-green party, is expected to form a coalition government with two other center-left groups: the Social Democrats and the Left party.

The winner of last weekend parliamentary vote in Slovenia says he hopes to have a new government formed by mid-June.

Seeing Macron win in France, America's Trumpy far right knows that to win, it has to cheat. It has to lie and tear down trust in democratic processes.

Slovenia Election Outgoing Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa walks on a stage to address the media in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Sunday, April 24, 2022. Early official results of Sunday's parliamentary election in Slovenia show that an opposition liberal party convincingly won, in a major defeat for populist Prime Minister Janez Jansa, who was accused of pushing the small European Union country to the right while in office. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) (Darko Bandic)LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — (AP) — Only a few months ago, Robert Golob was virtually unknown in politics, didn’t belong to any party, but had a clear goal: to remove Slovenian right-wing populist Prime Minister Janez Jansa from power and stop a democratic backslide in the tiny Alpine state. But some of the region’s most prominent autocrats, such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic, have kept their tight grip on power after convincingly winning votes in their countries earlier this month. Jansa, who was seeking his fourth term in office, reluctantly conceded the defeat.

Only months ago, Robert Golob was virtually unknown in politics, didn’t belong to any party, but had a clear goal: remove Slovenian populist Prime Minister Janez Jansa from power and stop a democratic backslide in the tiny Alpine state.

Slovenia Election Opposition leader Robert Golob addresses members and supporters of the Freedom Movement as they celebrate in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Sunday, April 24, 2022, over a video broadcast, because of positive COVID test. Exit polls in Slovenia's parliamentary vote suggest a strong lead for the opposition liberals over the ruling right-wing populists of Prime Minister Janez Jansa. Trailing behind the top two contenders were the New Slovenia party with 7%, followed by the Social Democrats with more than 6% and the Left party with 4%. The Freedom Movement party has advocated a green energy transition and sustainable development over Jansa's nation-centered narrative. He took over after lawmakers from centrist and left-leaning groups switched sides following the resignation in 2020 of liberal Prime Minister Marjan Sarec.

Slovenia Election A member of electoral commission inspects ballot boxes at a polling station in Sentilj, Slovenia, Sunday, April 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) (Darko Bandic)LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — (AP) — Exit polls in Slovenia’s parliamentary vote Sunday suggested a strong lead for the opposition liberals over the ruling right-wing populists of Prime Minister Janez Jansa. Observers had predicted a tight race between the ruling conservative Slovenian Democratic Party and newcomer Freedom Movement party which led the polls ahead of the vote for the 90-member legislature. “Expectations are good.”Jansa became prime minister a little over two years ago after the previous liberal premier resigned. The main challenger Sunday is U.S.-educated former business executive Robert Golob and his Freedom Movement party.

Slovenia Election A member of electoral commission inspects ballot boxes at a polling station in Sentilj, Slovenia, Sunday, April 24, 2022. Slovenians cast ballots in a parliamentary election that is expected to be a tight race between Prime Minister Janez Jansa's ruling right-wing populists and liberals in the politically divided European Union nation. The ruling conservative Slovenian Democratic Party and newly formed Freedom Movement have led polls ahead of the vote. Jansa became prime minister a little over two years ago after the previous liberal premier resigned. He took over after lawmakers from centrist and left-leaning groups switched sides following the resignation in 2020 of liberal Prime Minister Marjan Sarec.

Early official results from Sunday's parliamentary election in Slovenia show that an opposition liberal party convincingly won, in a major defeat for populist Prime Minister Janez Jansa, who was accused of pushing the small European Union country to the right while in office.

Slovenia Election A man casts his ballot at a polling station for early voting in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Thursday, April 21, 2022. The election set for Sunday is taking place amid heightened political divisions in Slovenia. Recent opinion surveys showed Jansa's Slovenian Democratic Party in a tight race with the Freedom Movement, a newly formed liberal-green political party. While the prime minister has boasted of economic successes during tough times, critics have sounded alarm over his increasingly authoritarian course. But it has come under EU scrutiny as Jansa has forged close relations with fellow populist, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

When he visited Ukraine last month with two other European leaders, Prime Minister Janez Jansa of Slovenia hoped to show solidarity with the war-stricken nation and to attract support at home ahead of what is expected to be a close parliamentary election.

(AP Photo/Olivier Matthys) (Olivier Matthys)BRUSSELS — (AP) — President Vladimir Putin's threat to have “unfriendly” countries pay for Russian natural gas exports only in rubles from now on got the not-so-friendly treatment from European Union nations Thursday. “I don’t think anybody in Europe really know how rubles look like,” said Slovene Prime Minister Janez Jansa. Making such demands though, would fundamentally change contracts and render them null and void, several European leaders said during the first day of their EU summit. With the ruble in trouble because of the stringent economic sanctions, Putin would use any financial lift he can find. He instructed the country’s central bank to work out a procedure for natural gas buyers to acquire rubles in Russia.

President Vladimir Putin’s threat to have “unfriendly” countries pay for Russian natural gas exports only in rubles from now on has got the not-so-friendly treatment from European Union nations.

President Vladimir Putin's threat to have “unfriendly” countries pay for Russian natural gas exports only in rubles from now on got the not-so-friendly treatment from European Union nations Thursday. If others put it less bluntly, it came down to the same — from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, who as former chief of the European Central Bank, knows something about currencies. Early this week, Putin launched the idea that because of Western sanctions targeting the Kremlin and freezing Russian assets, they were "effectively drawing a line over reliability of their currencies, undermining the trust for those currencies.”

Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski — the chief of the ruling conservative party and his country’s most powerful politician — also made the trip. Blaszczak, the Polish defense minister, said it was that idea that he presented at the NATO meeting Wednesday. Although pronouncing their trip to be an EU mission, officials in Brussels cast it as something the three leaders undertook on their own. A few, however, criticized the leaders for making a risky trip that was largely symbolic and lacked a clear international mandate. “I do not rule out further weapons support from Sweden,” Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson.

Russia Ukraine War In this image from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a meeting with Slovenia Prime Minister Janez Jansa, Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski on behalf of the European Council, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday, March 15, 2022. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala called on as many countries as possible to equip Ukraine with large amounts of weapons quickly so the country can continue fighting off Russian forces that are trying to take the capital and other cities. Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski — the chief of the ruling conservative party and his country’s most powerful politician - also made the trip. The Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia are members of both the European Union and NATO. ___Follow all AP stories on Russia's war on Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraineCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

The leaders met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday to convey a message of solidarity with Ukraine and of support for the nation’s aspirations to one day join the European Union. They went ahead with the hours-long train trip despite concerns about risks to their security while traveling through a war zone. Although pronouncing their trip as an EU mission, officials in Brussels cast it as something the three leaders had undertaken on their own. Polish government spokesman Piotr Mueller said Wednesday morning that the three had returned safely to Poland. At a news briefing late Tuesday in Kyiv, Kaczynski said he believed that a NATO peacekeeping mission is needed in Ukraine.

(Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) (Uncredited)WARSAW, Poland — (AP) — The prime ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia have returned safely back to Poland on Wednesday after a visit to Kyiv meant to show support for Ukraine as it faces heavy bombardment. They went ahead with the hours-long train trip despite worries within the EU about the security risks of traveling within a war zone. Polish government spokesman Piotr Mueller said Wednesday morning that they had returned safely to Poland. They were joined by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who is a deputy prime minister and conservative ruling party leader and in Poland’s unusual political arrangement the country’s most powerful leader. ___Follow all AP stories on Russia's war on Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.

The prime ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia have safely returned to Central Europe after visiting Kyiv to show support for Ukraine as it defends itself from Russia’s military invasion.

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Facebook in the evening that he, deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski and the Czech and Slovenian leaders were in Kyiv. Poland's leaders, together with Prime Ministers Petr Fiala of the Czech Republic and Janez Jansa of Slovenia, said they were on an EU mission. Jansa is a right-wing populist friendly with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The Slovenian prime minister has supported the false claims of former U.S. President Donald Trump that the 2020 U.S. election was rigged. Morawiecki said on Facebook that the visit was agreed by the EU and that the United Nations was also informed.

Russia Ukraine War A woman reacts after being rescued by firefighters from her apartment in a burning building that was hit by artillery shells in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 15, 2022. No further details about the itinerary were disclosed except that they will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. The three Central European nations are former communist countries that now belong to the EU and NATO. Jansa is a right-wing populist friendly with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The Slovenian prime minister has supported the false claims of former U.S. President Donald Trump that the 2020 election was rigged.

The prime ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia traveled by train to Kyiv on Tuesday to show support for Ukraine as Russian attacks on the capital city intensified.

The leaders of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia are traveling to Kyiv on a European Union mission to meet with Ukraine’s top leadership as Russia’s offensive moves closer to the center of the capital

The prime ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia have traveled by train to Kyiv and met with President Volodymy Zelenskyy in a show of support for Ukraine.

The prime ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia traveled to the embattled Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday in a show of support for Ukraine even as bombardment by the Russian military edged closer to the center of the city. The three leaders went ahead with the hours-long train trip despite worries within the European Union about the security risks of traveling within a war zone.

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — (AP) — Slovenia's president on Wednesday formally scheduled a parliamentary election for April 24. The vote will test the popularity of right-wing Prime Minister Janez Jansa amid political divisions in the small European Union nation. He urged a non-divisive tone in the campaign and debates ahead of the vote. Jansa, a fierce anti-immigration politician, also has faced scrutiny within the 27-nation EU over complaints of pressure on the media in Slovenia. The prime minister on Wednesday said he has tested positive for the new coronavirus with mild symptoms.

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — (AP) — Slovenia is set to hold a parliamentary election on April 24, the president said Thursday. The vote will test the popularity of right-wing Prime Minister Janez Jansa amid political divisions in the small European Union nation. President Borut Pahor said he will formally schedule the vote in early February. A veteran politician, Jansa took over the government helm in early March 2020, just as the coronavirus pandemic started. Jansa, a fierce anti-immigration politician, also has faced scrutiny within the EU over complaints of pressure on the media in Slovenia.

China on Wednesday condemned plans by Slovenia to upgrade relations with self-governing Taiwan, a move likely to spark diplomatic and economic retaliation against the tiny Central European country. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said China was “shocked by this and strongly opposed to it,” but gave no immediate details on how Beijing would respond. “It is a dangerous statement made by the Slovenian leader that overtly challenges the one-China principle and supports Taiwan independence," Zhao told reporters at a daily briefing, referring to comments Monday by Slovenia’s Prime Minister Janez Jansa.

“I’m talking not only about Ukraine," Nauseda said, stressing that NATO's eastern flank and the Baltic region should also be concerned. Many of the leaders said they looked toward diplomatic talks to stave off military action in Ukraine. Prime Minister Janez Jansa of Slovenia, which holds the EU's rotating presidency until the end of the year, suggested talks between France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia. Zelenskyy said Ukraine stands ready to enter into talks with Russia to ease tensions but that Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn't appear willing to come to the table at the moment. The U.S. and the EU have been coordinating their response to the Russians, but no real details of any sanctions have emerged.

European Union leaders are pressing Russia to enter peace talks with Ukraine.

APTOPIX Virus Outbreak Slovenia Protest A demonstrator stomps on a smoke canister during a protest against vaccinations and coronavirus measures in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (Petr David Josek)LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — (AP) — Slovenia's populist prime minister on Monday blamed a rise in COVID-19 infections on protests in early October that erupted into clashes between police and thousands of opponents of vaccination and coronavirus restrictions. “Forty police officers were injured, and some rioters were slightly injured,” Jansa said of the unrest that erupted on the eve of a major European Union summit in Slovenia in early October. About 25 protesters were detained and several were injured or hospitalized — mostly for inhaling tear gas. Jansa rejected a possibility of spiraling violence in Slovenia as the result of police action against the protesters, saying instead that the nation faces spiraling infections.

Slovenia’s populist prime minister has blamed a rise in COVID-19 infections on protests in early October that erupted in clashes between police and thousands of opponents of vaccines and coronavirus restrictions.

BRUSSELS — (AP) — The European Union expressed concern Thursday about media freedom in Slovenia after the head of the country’s only news agency stepped down over a new public service contract that would dictate the way STA is funded. He insists that much of Slovenia's media is biased against him, but he said in July that the funding issue would be resolved this fall. “We urge the Slovenian authorities, the Slovenian government, to take decisive action to stop and reverse the current trend. The developments show, unfortunately once again, the need for EU legislation to protect media freedom and pluralism,” Wigand said. “Such a situation presents major risks for media freedom and media pluralism in Slovenia, and consequently in the EU,” she wrote.

Slovenia Bled Strategic Forum Slovenia's Prime Minister Janez Jansa, left, and European Council President Charles Michel, center, attend a meeting of the Bled Strategic Forum at the Bled Festival Hall in Bled, Slovenia, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021. The Bled Strategic Forum gathers participants from various fields to discuss solutions to present and future challenges. He said the U.S deployed around 5,000 troops to secure the Kabul airport, and held up as an example the 5,000-soldier anti-jihadist French military force based in the Sahel region. Back then, the EU set a military target of putting at the bloc’s disposal up to 60,000 troops capable of deployment within 60 days. Another senior EU official said the currently discussed military force would be “much bigger” than the current standby forces if member countries reach a consensus.

Senior European Union officials say the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan and the rushed airlift operation out of the country have highlighted the EU's need for its own rapid-reaction military force.

Europe Slovenia Rule of Law FILE - In this Tuesday, July 6, 2021 file photo, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa attends the presentation of the Slovenian Presidency during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France. The European Commission’s report said media freedom and pluralism have been deteriorating and pointed out online harassment and threats against journalists. As he arrived Friday at an EU meeting in Slovenia, Lenarčič rejected the accusation. Janša is accused of becoming increasingly authoritarian in ways similar to those of his ally, hardline Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Janša said the EU is applying double standards on the rule of law by adopting a softer stance toward Western countries.

Slovenia Prime Minister Janez Janša has accused a European Union official of being a liar in the wake of the publication of an annual report on adherence to the rule of law in the bloc.

The European Union's executive Commission says democratic standards in the bloc are eroding in several member countries, particularly in Hungary and Poland where judicial independence is under threat.

Slovenia Water Referendum A voter stands in front of a polling station in Brezice, Slovenia, Sunday, July 11, 2021. Janez Jansa's government approved the amendments in March but ecologists forced a referendum amid claims that the proposed legislation would threaten the environment and diminish water quality. State election authoritied said that 86,6% of voters voted against the changes. Some analysts and opposition parties said the referendum result was a defeat for Jansa's government and a signal that it has lost its legitimacy to govern. But opponents said the regulations favor the interests of private investors, have limited public access to water and jeopardized water quality.

Slovenia’s right-wing prime minister has brushed off opposition calls for his government's resignation in the wake of a referendum in which voters overwhelmingly rejected changes to a water management law.

Slovenia Water Referendum Andrej Vizjak, Slovenia's minister for environment casts his ballot at a polling station in Brezice, Slovenia, Sunday, July 11, 2021. Slovenians voted in a referendum on changes to the country’s waters management law that is seen as a test for the government of right-wing Prime Minister Janez Jansa. (AP Photo) (Uncredited)LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — (AP) — Slovenian voters on Sunday overwhelmingly rejected changes to the country's water management law, a development seen as a blow to the country's right-wing leader. The water dispute reflected heightened political tensions in Slovenia, where Jansa’s government has faced accusations of curbing democratic and media freedoms in the traditionally liberal nation. Environment Minister Andrej Vizjak told public broadcaster TV Slovenia that the referendum was misused and the government's goals misinterpreted.

Slovenia Water Referendum Andrej Vizjak, Slovenia's minister for environment casts his ballot at a polling station in Brezice, Slovenia, Sunday, July 11, 2021. Slovenians voted in a referendum on changes to the country’s waters management law that is seen as a test for the government of right-wing Prime Minister Janez Jansa. (AP Photo) (Uncredited)LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — (AP) — Slovenians on Sunday appeared to have overwhelmingly rejected changes to the country's water management law, according to preliminary results, a development that will be a blow to the country's right-wing leader. The right to water was enshrined in the country's constitution in 2016. The water dispute has reflected heightened political tensions in Slovenia, where Jansa’s government has faced accusations of curbing democratic and media freedoms in the traditionally liberal nation.

Slovenia Water Referendum Andrej Vizjak, Slovenia's minister for environment casts his ballot at a polling station in Brezice, Slovenia, Sunday, July 11, 2021. Slovenians voted in a referendum on changes to the country’s waters management law that is seen as a test for the government of right-wing Prime Minister Janez Jansa. (AP Photo) (Uncredited)LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — (AP) — Slovenians voted Sunday in a referendum on changes to the country's water management law, a ballot seen as a test for the government of right-wing Prime Minister Janez Jansa. Environment Minister Andrej Vizjak complained that the referendum is not about "rational voting.”“It’s more or less about emotions, about politics,” he said. For the referendum to succeed, a majority of those who voted and at least one-fifth of around 1.7 million eligible voters — around 340,000 — must reject the water law amendments.

The Iranian government has expressed anger over the appearance of senior European and U.S. politicians at a rally in support of an opposition group that has long sought to overthrow Iran’s theocratic rulers.

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — (AP) — Slovenians were voting Sunday in a referendum on changes to the country's water management law, in a test for the government of right-wing Prime Minister Janez Jansa. Jansa's government approved the amendments in March but ecologists have pushed through the referendum, saying the changes threaten the environment and water quality. The water dispute has reflected heightened political tensions in Slovenia where Jansa’s government has faced accusations of curbing democratic and media freedoms in the traditionally liberal nation. Jansa also has faced EU scrutiny over his populist ways as Slovenia took over the bloc’s six-month rotating presidency earlier this month. For the referendum to succeed, a majority of those who voted and at least one fifth of around 1.7 million eligible voters — around 340,000 — must reject the water law amendments.

Voters in Slovenia appear to have overwhelmingly rejected changes to the country’s water management law.

Slovenians were voting Sunday in a referendum on changes to the country's water management law, in a test for the government of right-wing Prime Minister Janez Jansa. Jansa's government approved the amendments in March but ecologists have pushed through the referendum, saying the changes threaten the environment and water quality. The issue has sparked a heated debate in the small European Union nation of 2 million people known for stunningly beautiful Alpine scenery and as nature-lovers.

Slovenia Visegrad Grouop Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban, left, walks next to Prime Minister of Slovenia Janez Jansa in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, July 9, 2021. Four prime ministers of Visegrad Group met with Slovenia's Prime minister Jansa in Slovenia which assumed the EU Presidency earlier this month. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday urged Central European countries to stick together on the issue of migration so that their voice is heard within the 27-member bloc. Central European countries have been critical of EU migration policies have have accused the bloc of fostering inequality among its members that diminishes their influence. Morawiecki complained that Central European countries feel that they're “only pawns on some European chess board.”“This is why our voice in the discussion about Europe’s future ….

Central European leaders are voicing concern over what they say is a potential migration rush from Afghanistan in the wake of U.S. and NATO withdrawal.

Central European leaders on Friday voiced concern over what they said was a potential migration rush from Afghanistan as U.S. and NATO forces pull out from that country. Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki Morawiecki said a NATO troop withdrawal from Afghanistan could trigger a migration influx into Europe, on top of a steady stream of migrant arrivals from Africa.

Slovenia EU Presidency In this May 25, 2021 file photo, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, left, speaks with Slovenia's Prime Minister Janez Jansa in Brussels. Some fear that new legislation introduced by the two countries could undermine democratic standards and the independence of the judiciary. We are not a second-class member of the European Union,” Jansa told foreign reporters on Friday. Jansa is accused of becoming increasingly authoritarian in ways similar to those of his ally, hardline Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Jansa’s use of images to make a point didn't go down well with the commission at Thursday’s meeting to mark the start of Slovenia’s presidency.

Tiny Slovenia has taken charge of the world’s largest trading bloc, but its presidency got off to a rocky start.

Tiny Slovenia took charge of the world’s largest trading bloc this week, and immediately shone a harsh spotlight on one of the European Union’s most vexing problems: How to accommodate increasingly vocal member countries with very different visions of Europe’s future. Already, nationalist governments in Hungary and Poland are worrying their more politically mainstream partners in the 27-nation EU. Then on Thursday, Slovenia’s return to the European stage — it took over the EU’s rotating presidency for six months — was marked by concerns about the right-wing government’s record on media freedoms and its failure to nominate legal experts to the fraud-busting European Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Slovenia EU Presidency In this May 25, 2021 file photo, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, left, speaks with Slovenia's Prime Minister Janez Jansa in Brussels. (John Thys, Pool via AP) (John Thys)KRANJ, Slovenia — (AP) — Slovenia’s presidency of the European Union got off to a tense, rocky start Thursday, as the EU’s chief executive demanded that the right-wing government end a funding rift with the small Alpine country’s main news agency. This is the essence of democracy,” a stony-faced von der Leyen told reporters during a visit to Slovenia with her team of commissioners. Critics accuse Jansa of assuming increasingly authoritarian ways similar to those of his ally, Hungary’s hardline Prime Minister Viktor Orban. “It is a crucial component to protect EU tax-payers’ money,” von der Leyen said.

Slovenia’s presidency of the European Union is off to a tense, rocky start.

Slovenia’s prime minister, a nationalist dubbed "mini-Trump", takes charge of the European Union’s rotating presidency on Thursday amid fears he will pour petrol on the flames of the EU’s culture war over LGBT rights. Janez Jansa, a communist turned Right-wing populist after the collapse of Yugoslavia, could further exacerbate divides between EU member states in the east and more liberal countries in the west. Slovenia takes on the six-month presidency on July 1, which means its officials will o

Slovenia EU Presidency FILE - In this July 17, 2020 file photo, Slovenia's Prime Minister Janez Jansa takes off his protective face mask in Brussels. “But, what is this ‘European way of life’ promoted by Slovenia’s presidency? During its presidency, Slovenia also plans to make progress on a new asylum system one of its priorities. Slovenia’s presidency is likely to be a dynamic affair because of Jansa’s unorthodox style of leadership that included his staunch support for former U.S. President Donald Trump during the last American election. In Slovenia, Jansa is nicknamed “Marshal Twito” — a pun playing on the name of the former Yugoslav dictator Marshal Josip Broz Tito —because of his frequent use of Twitter.

Slovenia’s president Borut Pahor has rejected in an interview with the AP that the increasingly autocratic policies of the country’s government could hurt its upcoming European Union presidency, saying the small Alpine state will stay on its traditional liberal course.

Slovenia takes over the European Union presidency with its prime minister in the focus because of his squabbles with Brussels, close alliance with populist Hungarian leader Viktor Orban and increasingly autocratic policies which cast doubt on the small country’s credibility to lead the 27-nation bloc. Although the rotating six-month EU Council presidency, which Slovenia assumes from Portugal on Thursday, is mostly a bureaucratic task, it comes amid the bloc’s painful post-COVID-19 recovery, the stalled EU enlargement process and concerns that the leadership role could be used by the government to further obstruct media freedoms in Slovenia and elsewhere in Europe. In May, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa narrowly survived an impeachment motion in the Slovenian parliament filed by opposition parties which accused him of clamping down on the press and mismanaging the pandemic by failing to provide enough vaccines for the picturesque Alpine state of about 2 million people.

Serbia and Kosovo have clashed at a summit of Western Balkan nations over border changes in the region, which is still recuperating from bloody civil wars in the 1990s.

President Emmanuel Macron says outdoor terraces of France’s cafes and restaurants will be allowed to reopen on May 19 along with museums, cinemas, theaters and concert halls under certain conditions.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Poland are currently using their EU vetos to stop a 1.8 trillion euro ($2.1 trillion) EU budget and coronavirus recovery package from taking effect. They say they will continue doing so as long as other EU nations maintain their commitment to including the rule of law mechanism in the budget — and they got strong backing from Slovenia on Wednesday. The issue is set to become a major dispute at Thursday's EU video summit of the leaders of the 27 member nations. All EU nations badly need the money as coronavirus infections and deaths surge around Europe and economies are ravaged by both increased health care demands and lockdowns to slow the pace of contamination. Orban claimed Wednesday that the dispute was linked to his restrictive views on immigration, which are unpopular in some EU circles.

Other leaders who supported Trump, including President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines, congratulated Biden, indicating they rejected Trump’s claim the election wasn’t over. Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia told reporters he looked forward to a “great partnership” with Washington. Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan said he looked forward to working together to end illegal tax havens and on peacemaking in Afghanistan. Others expressed hope Biden will help to heal divisions in American society and global politics. Prime Minister Janez Jansa was the only leader who congratulated Trump even before all votes were counted and showed support after Biden’s win was announced.

World leaders congratulated U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on his victory, cheering it as an opportunity to fortify global democracy and celebrating the significance of Americans having their first female vice president. Other leaders who sent congratulations included German Chancellor Angela Merkel, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Prime Minister Janez Jansa was the only world leader who congratulated Trump even before all the votes were counted, and showed support after Biden’s win was announced. His rival, Juan Guaido, also thanked Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for their “firmness and determination” in confronting Maduro. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who struck up a cordial working relationship with Trump, also avoided congratulating Joe Biden.

LJUBLJANA – Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa endorsed U.S. President Donald Trump’s reelection on Friday, saying Joe Biden would be a weak leader. With a tweet, Jansa added his name to a list of regional leaders who have openly supported Trump during the election campaign. Go, win, Donald Trump,” Jansa said. Also Friday, the Serb member of Bosnia's three-member presidency, Milorad Dodik, urged Serbs living in the U.S. to vote for Trump. Right-wing conservatives in Eastern and Central Europe, like Orban, Vucic and Jansa, have sometimes copied Trump’s style of leadership.

(AP Photo/Anupam Nath)LONDON — Ireland’s government is putting the country at its highest level of coronavirus restrictions for six weeks in a bid to combat a rise in infections. The board members hail from top California top universities and medical providers, along with state and local public health officials. ___AUSTIN, Texas -- Health officials in Texas have reported 4,319 COVID-19 hospital patients, the most since Aug. 28. Khan’s remarks come amid a slight increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths in recent weeks. Pakistan also reported 440 new confirmed cases, raising its total cases to 323,452 since February when Pakistan reported its first case.

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, right, shakes hands with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ahead of their meeting in Bled, Slovenia, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020. Pompeo is on a five-day visit to central Europe with a hefty agenda including China's role in 5G network construction. On the second leg of a four-nation tour of central and eastern Europe, Pompeo was meeting Slovenian officials in the mountain lake town of Bled on Thursday. He is to sign a joint declaration on 5G Clean Network Security that aims to keep untrusted telecoms vendors out. Besides the 5G declaration, Pompeo will be discussing energy security with Slovenia's president and prime minister.

Sebian police officers disperse protesters in front of Serbian parliament building in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Opponents blame the autocratic Serbian leader of contributing to the spike in deaths and new cases after he lifted the previous lockdown measures. On Wednesday, Vucic appeared to backtrack on his new lockdown plans that were to take effect during the coming weekend. Kon said the protest on Tuesday evening showed how people feel about the possibility of total lockdown in Belgrade during the weekend. He said the virus' spread has to be curbed and lockdown is the easiest way.