Slovenian twist puts Italy on straight and narrow 19 Jul 2016 Europe’s top court said Ljubljana was right to hit creditors when recapitalising banks. That’s unhelpful for Italian premier Matteo Renzi, who has banks to rescue but doesn’t want to punish their bondholders. He may have to play it straight, which would be no bad thing.
Slovenia can delay its bailout for another year 23 May 2013 Ljubljana’s ambitious privatisation plan, still-low borrowing costs and upcoming “bad bank” will ease calls for external help this year. But Slovenia’s fragile politics, weak banks and deteriorating finances, if not fixed, will force it into a bailout in 2014.
Slovenia’s bailout phobia is short-sighted 17 Apr 2013 Ljubljana says it doesn’t need a bailout. With small debt and a moderate deficit, that may be technically true. The country can fund itself on the markets, but yields remain too high. Worries about the banks will make it hard to dodge a rescue package. Better now than later.
Ljubljana should take the bailout it doesn’t need 5 Apr 2013 Slovenia has less debt than Germany and a lower deficit than France. But its bond yields are through the roof. Comparisons with Cyprus are silly - but Slovenia should take a bailout to lower funding costs. A successful deal would help the euro zone undo the damage of Cyprus.
Slovenia finds delay doesn’t pay 20 Sep 2012 The richest Yugoslav republic at independence has been slow to reform its economy. Now Slovenia’s budget and pension systems are out of whack and the state-owned banks are full of bad debts. With or without an EU bailout, it must complete the work postponed for two decades.