On Wednesday, the 32nd demonstration took place in front of Ljubljana's City Administration, organized by local council member Aleš Primc as part of ongoing efforts to protect the city’s drinking water from the controversial C0 sewer channel project led by Mayor Zoran Janković. The protest aimed to highlight concerns over the potential contamination of Ljubljana’s water supply due to the proposed pipeline, which critics argue poses serious environmental and health risks. Primc emphasized that the removal of the C0 pipe is the only permanent solution to prevent pollution from sewage, despite Janković’s public threats to proceed with the construction.
Primc noted that under the previous government led by Prime Minister Janez Golob, efforts had been made to safeguard the drinking water consumed daily by over 400,000 residents. He criticized Janković for wanting to use pipes that, according to standards, could potentially leak, transporting eight million liters of hazardous wastewater each day directly through water collection points. This has raised significant alarm among activists and environmental experts who fear the long-term consequences of such a project on the city's water quality.
The protest featured several speakers, including Aleš Hojs, president of the Ljubljana Municipal Committee of the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), Uroš Jernejc, a victim of violence by Janković’s security personnel along the planned route of the C0 channel, and Marko Mitja Feguš, an environmental expert. These individuals shared their perspectives on the dangers posed by the project and called for continued resistance against its implementation.
In May, Janković faced two major legal setbacks. According to Primc, the Administrative Court ruled that the building permits issued for the C0 channel were unlawful. In one decision (IU 174/2023), the court determined that Janković did not have the authority to handle one of the parcels included in the initial building permit, thereby confirming the illegality of the first permit. Another ruling (I U 195/2024-61) mandated that an environmental impact assessment must be conducted before issuing any building permits, which Janković failed to do, rendering all permits invalid.
Primc pointed out that these rulings were not merely procedural but also substantive. The court rejected the decision made by Tine Sršen, former state secretary at the Ministry of Environment, who had claimed that an environmental impact assessment was unnecessary. The court found that Sršen lacked both the proper qualifications and the necessary training to make such a determination. Additionally, the court invalidated the conclusion reached by the Agency for the Environment in 2016, which stated that an environmental impact assessment was not required. Since this conclusion was not legally binding, it could not serve as a basis for any administrative decisions, including the issuance of building permits.
These judicial decisions have exposed the lack of legal compliance in the approval process of the C0 channel. Primc argued that these rulings demonstrated not only the illegality of the permits but also suggested possible corruption within the municipal administration and relevant ministries. He emphasized that the officials involved should not claim ignorance of the law, given the repeated warnings they had received about the legal issues surrounding the project.
Despite these legal challenges, Janković continues to assert that the project was carried out in accordance with the law. However, opponents argue that his claims are misleading and aim to instill fear among citizens rather than address the real environmental concerns. While parts of the C0 channel were laid down in mid-April, they remain without the necessary approvals to serve their intended purpose. Activists continue to call for transparency and accountability, urging the public to maintain pressure until the issue is resolved definitively.
3 reports
DomovinaIndependentCenterFactual 88Objective 7516 days agoA protest against the planned operation of the controversial sewage channel C0 will take place on Monday at 14:30 in front of Ljubljana's City Hall. The demonstration, organized by activist Aleš Primc, aims to highlight concerns that Mayor Zoran Janković might still proceed with activating the channel despite court rulings declaring it illegal. This could potentially contaminate the drinking water supply used by over 400,000 people daily. The protests have been ongoing for three years and have contributed to keeping the channel inactive. Recently, the courts invalidated previous decisions allowing construction on the basis of an environmental impact assessment, citing procedural errors and lack of proper qualifications by the former state secretary Tine Seršen. Janković maintains that the project was legally executed, while opponents argue that the channel remains non-functional without proper authorization.
Bias read (Center): The article presents both sides of the issue: the protesters' concerns about potential contamination of drinking water and the mayor's defense of the legality of the project. It includes legal arguments from both parties and does not favor one side through loaded language or selective sourcing.
Why these scores (Factual 88 · Objective 75): This article confirms the 32nd protest against the C0 channel, aligns with the Nova24TV report on legal defeats for Janković, and provides additional context on the ongoing legal battles. It maintains consistency with other sources but still has some subjective phrasing regarding the 'nevarnost zast
Nova24TVParty-alignedProgressiveFactual 85Objective 7014 days agoThe article discusses a protest organized by Ljubljana city councilor Aleš Primc against Mayor Zoran Janković's plans to construct the C0 sewage channel, which activists claim could contaminate drinking water. Primc argues that the construction of the C0 channel is illegal due to two recent court decisions that invalidated the permits issued by Janković. The article highlights concerns over potential environmental harm and the legality of the project, citing legal rulings that found the initial permits unlawful. Activists have been holding demonstrations for months, emphasizing the need to protect the city's water supply. The protest includes speakers such as an SDS MP, a victim of violence related to the project, and an environmental expert.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue as a conflict between local activists and the mayor, with strong emphasis on the illegality of the project and the threat to public health. It uses critical language toward the mayor and highlights the legal victories of the opposition, suggesting a clear ideological slm
Why these scores (Factual 85 · Objective 70): The article reports on a 32nd protest against the C0 channel, citing statements from city councilor Aleš Primc. It mentions legal defeats for Janković and environmental concerns. Factually aligned with cross-source consensus but uses emotionally charged language like 'smrtno nevaren' (deadly dangero
MladinaIndependentProgressiveFactual 60Objective 5511 days agoThe article discusses the proposed construction of waste incineration plants in Slovenia, focusing on the plans by the government under Prime Minister Janez Janša and Mayor Zoran Janković of Ljubljana. It highlights concerns raised by experts and critics regarding the environmental impact, health risks, and high costs associated with these projects. The new minister for environment and spatial planning, Polona Rifelj, has stated that waste incineration will be a priority, but she has not addressed potential health risks or warnings from independent engineering experts. Critics argue that the planned Ljubljana incinerator would be built on unstable ground and would require additional investments for waste storage and water treatment facilities, which are often overlooked. The article also criticizes the lack of transparency around the technology used at Celje’s existing incineration plant and the hidden costs involved.
Bias read (Progressive): The article presents a critical perspective towards the government and local authorities' handling of the incineration project, emphasizing environmental and health risks while questioning the transparency and cost-effectiveness of the plan. The tone suggests skepticism toward the government's reass
Why these scores (Factual 60 · Objective 55): This article shifts focus to waste incineration and political maneuvering, diverging from the main event covered by the previous articles. It introduces new topics not directly related to the C0 channel controversy and contains less factual alignment with the cross-source consensus. The tone is more
★
Keep the news honest.
ObjectiveNews is reader-funded and ad-free — we show you the bias instead of hiding it. Support independent journalism for €5/month.
Become a Supporter
Slovenia
