Slovenian PM ordered to apologise, pay fine to opposition party for defamation

The District Court in the northwestern town of Velenje ruled that Jansa should publish an apology on Twitter within 15 days due to false claims the house where the SD headquarters had not been stolen, but legally acquired property, Slovenian news agency STA reported.

If the first-instance verdict is confirmed, which Jansa can appeal within 30 days, he will also have to pay the costs of the court procedure of around 800 euros.

The court ruled Jansa, also the leader of the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), published the disputed allegations, knowing that their content was not authentic and that the published information would have a tremendous public response.

Social Democrat Dejan Levanic, said the verdict was of great importance because the court called the Prime Minister to account for the false statement.

"The court found that Jansa knew about his statement was false, but still maliciously published it," SD Secretary-General Dejan Levanic wrote and said the SD would donate the compensation to charity.