Lipica stud farm companies merged again
While locals support the merger, the Writers' Association warns of private interests.
The reunification of the two companies, which were a single unit until 2014, when they were divided based on a negative opinion by the Court of Audit, was proposed in April by the ruling Party of the Modern Centre (SMC) and the junior coalition pensioner's Party (DeSUS).
It was only the SMC and DeSUS that voted in favour of the motion. The opposition Democrats (SDS) and United Left (ZL) voted against, while the remaining parties, including the coalition SocDems, abstained.
Apart from merging the Lipica stud farm and Lipica turism, the changes also put the Economy Ministry in charge of the stud farm instead the Agriculture Ministry.
The SocDems were reserved about the motion, as its head, Agriculture Minister Dejan Židan, has been warning of the risks of the planned merger.
These were also raised today by the Slovenian Writers' Association. They believe the changes may put in risk the very existence of the world-famous Lipizzaner horses, by cutting the number of horses at the farm and giving priority to mass tourism.
Gaming tourism, golf courses and heavy construction have no place at the farm and its surroundings, poet Boris A. Novak stressed.
But locals disagree, saying that things could not be worse in Lipica. A civil initiative, bringing together four municipalities from the area, expressed support to the merger yesterday, calling for a unified management of the Lipica estate.
They also want to be more involved in the running of the farm.