By: Metod Berlec
We talked with the Vice President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia and the Member of the Slovenian Democratic Party Jože Tanko about the operation of the National Assembly in the expiring term, the coalition and the opposition, and the work of the current government.
DEMOKRACIJA: Mr. Tanko, the current convocation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia is coming to an end. Let us first touch on the first part of this term, when the left-wing coalition was in power, that is, from September 13th, 2018, to March 13th, 2020. How do you assess the work of Šarec’s government from today’s two-year distance?
Tanko: It was quite comical. It was seen that the Prime Minister has neither the knowledge nor the sense to lead and control the coalition. There was no coordination, the coalition agreement was a non-binding act, each partner worked on his own. The treaty coalition was ruled by the associated Levica party with its excessive proposals, which destroyed relations between work and non-work to the detriment of labour, despised and blocked the Slovenian Army, and raised strong doubts about the country’s involvement in international institutions. They neglected those we were in, e.g., EU and NATO, and provocatively strengthen military cooperation with Russia.
Prime Minister Šarec did not find himself on the European floor, he acted insecurely and on the principle that the big ones will decide. In short, he had no views and did not fight for Slovenia, but he favoured joint government sessions with the governments of some Balkan countries.
DEMOKRACIJA: As an experienced MP, how did you experience the work of the then left-wing ruling coalition in parliament?
Tanko: It was quite chaotic and unpredictable in the National Assembly; coalition parties were playing tricks. In particular, the Levica party has repeatedly managed to force a coalition with solutions that were neither logical nor normal. Thus, e.g., put those who were not employed in a more favourable tax position than those who were employed and paid social security contributions for the unemployed. There are even more such cases. Due to pressures within the coalition, ministers began to resign, which eventually led to the resignation of Prime Minister Šarec.
DEMOKRACIJA: How would you compare the work of the opposition in the first part of this term with the work of the current left opposition?
Tanko: We drew attention to all the current problems, we also submitted our proposals, which strengthened the position and position of the people and the economy, but not much could be done. Showing off and conceit were too great. At the end of 2019, covid hit, for which our health care system, as in all other countries, was not ready. We warned the government that immediate action was needed, we also proposed measures, but there was no appropriate response. It was obvious that Šarec’s government did not know how to turn around and that it would not be able to manage the crisis situation. The resignation of the two ministers also led to the resignation of the Prime Minister, with which Šarec wanted to force preliminary elections in every possible way and subordinate some of his former coalition partners. His intention failed and a new government was formed, which was not politically desirable for the transition background.
As a result, the current opposition (KUL) has been tearing it down all the time, rhetoric in parliament has sharpened and street vocabulary has become increasingly the standard in debates. The opposition did not come with improvements, but anti-solutions, they collectively opposed everything we proposed and accepted for the good of the people and the economy. Finally, together with the unions, they even opposed the amendment to the Personal Income Tax Act, which brings higher net salaries to all employees. This is completely incomprehensible.
DEMOKRACIJA: With the confirmation and oath of the third Janša coalition government, consisting of SDS, SMC, NSi and DeSUS, on the evening of March 13th, 2020, at the outbreak of a new coronavirus epidemic, the government immediately faced the crisis. How do you assess the two-year work of the government?
Tanko: As excellent. All objective international evaluators also assess the responses of the Janša government as one of the most successful in Europe and the world by all criteria. Months ago, our economy, after “covid”, exceeded the pre-crisis level, the number of employees is growing, the pressure on social services is decreasing, etc., which shows that many measures to help citizens and the economy were right. Although time brings new challenges and needs for government interventions, the responses to these are timely and financially supported.
DEMOKRACIJA: How do you assess the government’s attitude towards municipalities, which we know are the main generator of regional development? How do government measures affect the current development of municipalities and how will they affect them in the future?
Tanko: Municipalities can also be satisfied, as their financial situation has greatly improved after drought years, when they were completely ignored by the “left” governments, with few exceptions. In the last two years, the head tax and financial equalisation have increased significantly, the financing of a larger number of tasks has been transferred back to the state, and above all, the co-financing of municipal investments has significantly improved. For the first time, all registered projects in the field of education and sports were extensively co-financed. And what is especially gratifying, we have also passed laws that are the basis for co-financing in the coming years in the field of health, social, education, culture, etc. Roads are being intensively modernised, and most of the European funds are available so far. In short, it is happening in all areas and throughout the country, and after the elections we will continue to generously support investment.
DEMOKRACIJA: As we know, the National Assembly at this time, at the suggestion of the government, adopted as many as ten anti-corona law packages to help the people and the economy. Undoubtedly, this was a lot to do.
Tanko: Definitely. The measures were targeted and helped families and the economy a lot. Many companies or IC retained or retained most employees precisely because of these measures. Families in need also benefited greatly, especially pensioners, students, etc., as well as firefighters. However, every anti-corona package was severely discredited by Kul, and in each of them they were disturbed by some solutions that did not support it. But we passed laws, and essentially, the measures paid off.
DEMOKRACIJA: How do you explain the fact that you managed to get all this through the parliament in the ruling coalition, even though the government majority gradually melted away due to the SMC and DeSUS problems and even the President of the National Assembly Igor Zorčič transferred from the ruling coalition to the opposition? However, he did not want to resign from this position, although this would only be logical in view of past practice…
Tanko: Yes, it would be politically mature for Zorčič to resign upon leaving the SMC and the coalition because he gave up the party and coalition programme. Unfortunately, this was not the case, and there have been several additional and unnecessary problems with the effective functioning of the political system. Many also built the disintegration of the coalition on it.
But I think there are three reasons why the coalition did not fall apart. The first is that everyone expected action in a difficult situation and the members of the government were aware that if there was no government, nothing effective would have happened for at least half a year, and the consequences would have been catastrophic. The second reason is that the coalition judged that Slovenia could not afford anarchy during its presidency of the EU Council. And even in the presidency, the government has proven itself. The third reason was the reaction of the rest of the DeSUS and SMC MPs, who defied harsh external pressures. Many thanks go to them for their achievements because they did not give up. We must not ignore the fact that minority MPs and the SNS have repeatedly provided support to the government. Otherwise, it is not in the nature of the SDS and our president to give up. We are fighting for Slovenia to the end.
DEMOKRACIJA: A few days ago, you also managed to pass an important personal income tax law through the parliament, which will enable higher net salaries for all employees. How do you explain this madness that as many as 40 members of the left-wing opposition voted against? How will they justify this in front of their voters for opposing higher wages?
Tanko: Such an irrational act is difficult to justify, even more difficult to argue. They even threatened with a consultative referendum. It is inexplicable, however, that the unions were also against higher wages, for which the fight for higher wages is a fundamental point in the fight against capital. The head of the free trade unions, Lidija Jerkič, even stated that she could not explain why they were against it. However, it is true that this amendment was adopted by the government without any special battles or negotiations with the unions, which means that this coalition can continue to improve the standard and conditions of employees without unions. By amending this law, we are informing leftists and trade unions that Slovenia does not need poor workers and later also poor pensioners. We will continue to do everything for their dignified lives.
DEMOKRACIJA: Well, with your proposals, MPs can make a significant contribution to the development of the areas they come from. If I was right, you have been very active over the years. Perhaps also because you were the mayor of the municipality of Ribnica for two terms and you are aware of how important it is to invest in the development of municipalities.
Tanko: This also has some impact. When I was mayor, we realised many projects in difficult conditions, but several important ones remained ready and were implemented in the years when I was no longer mayor.
I was also active as an MP all the time. Even during Šarec’s government, I proposed an amendment to the Personal Income Tax Act, but it was not adopted, but the Act on Repayment of Expropriated Persons expropriated by the government of Alenka Bratušek is still awaiting consideration, and the Constitutional Court Act has been adopted. I succeeded with the proposal for the intergenerational centre in Loški Potok and I hope that with the completion of the home for the elderly in Osilnica.
Many, however, have probably forgotten that I also proposed several laws in previous terms, e.g., the law on hot meals for students was adopted, as well as the law on subsidies for the transportation of interns, high school students, and students. My solution was also for the state to co-finance school transport to municipalities in the area of dangerous carnivores. Finally, the reconstruction of the Kočevje line started at my request in 2006, and some of the renovated sections of roads in our area are the work of me and the then and current mayors.
DEMOKRACIJA: What will you strive for in the future in regional development, the development of the area you come from?
Tanko: I come from the countryside. This is generally more neglected than cities. Especially the areas along the southern border are sparsely populated, burdened with poor historical heritage. If we want them to survive, to remain inhabited by permanent border guards, the state must invest here. Easiest in social programmes that bring jobs and hope that young families will stay here as well. Infrastructure is also a problem, from roads, water and sewage networks, optics to health and other care. That is why we need to take special care of rural areas.
Municipalities have a lot of ideas and projects with building permits, some of which I have already participated in at this stage, and I will do my best to realise as many as possible.
DEMOKRACIJA: Let’s get back to the state level. How do you comment on the fact that on the transitional left, the godfathers from the background support Robert Golob as the new “messiah” as the “new face” and that his Gibanje Svoboda party together with the SDS is at the top of public opinion polls?
Tanko: They have a media monopoly, so they can afford to manipulate different people and sell them as celebrities and saviours among centre and undecided voters with their hard left-wing core, represented by the SD and the Levica. So far, it has been shown that every time they succeed with such a “messiah”, it goes from bad to worse. This time, too, it will be no different.
They are also the most manageable, as they are aware of the power of the political background, which has raised them with media manipulations and placed them as important on the political stage. With a single move, they can overthrow and write them off, so these “messiahs” are pursuing a policy at the behest of those behind their election, thus the parastate.
The concept of godparents is like what we see in Russia or Venezuela, when on the one hand there is a rich tycoon nobility who can afford the most precious goods of the world, and on the other the masses of the poor who struggle daily to survive.
DEMOKRACIJA: On Thursday, February 24th, Russia invaded Ukraine. So, the war has been going on for weeks. How do you view this tragedy we are witnessing?
Tanko: In modern Europe and the world, the word, knowledge, freedom of the individual and the country should prevail, not physical or military power. I oppose the war, as it has already brought many casualties, all of which were unnecessary, and material damage, and the moral consequences of aggression will not be forgotten. Every victim is too much.
Putin’s Russia did not tolerate that Russia’s former sphere of influence was changing dramatically, that de-Russification was taking place, and that former members of the Soviet Union wanted closer cooperation and ties with the more economically prosperous democracies of the EU and NATO. It is their decision that must be respected.
This time, Russia’s military attack on Ukraine is a tragedy for the Ukrainian people, it also poses a serious threat to Russia’s remaining neighbours, but in the end, Russia and its people will suffer the most. Russia is politically and economically isolated, supported by only a few countries with socialist dictatorships, and is unlikely to last long. However, war reparations cannot be avoided.
DEMOKRACIJA: To what extent do you think Putin’s aggression against Ukraine will affect the domestic election campaign?
Tanko: It will be quite strong. In a short time, circumstances have changed dramatically, a wave of price increases has started, especially in energy and food, there are problems with materials, business chains are being broken and much more, which requires effective answers and responses. In such situations, there is always plenty of room for criticism of what is more appropriate or more correct. However, it must be borne in mind that Slovenia is part of the Western world, which builds on human rights and not on violence. In this case, there is no room for the opportunism advocated by some.
DEMOKRACIJA: And for the end. In your opinion, what do the SDS candidates deserve support for in the upcoming parliamentary elections, which will take place on Sunday, April 24th, 2022?
Tanko: We have a recognisable concept of work that we have been carrying out in the context of the situation during our previous governments, and we have strengthened it even more in the last two years. We have put the family and its well-being at the centre, which must be based on work, and we provide appropriate assistance to vulnerable individuals and groups. This requires good economic conditions, a healthy living environment and the development of those activities that help develop the economy and the community. We pay a lot of attention to safety because security affects everyone.
Biography
Jože Tanko was first elected a member of the Slovene Democratic Party in 2000, and in his current term he is also the Vice-President of the National Assembly. He comes from Ribnica and was born into a working-class family. After finishing primary school in Ribnica, he continued his education at the Kočevje High School, and in 1980 he graduated in woodworking at the Biotechnical Faculty in Ljubljana. He was a scholarship holder of the company Inles, where he got a job after graduating and in 13 years rose from trainee to director of the largest Inles joint-stock company Inles Ribnica. In 1995 he was elected mayor of the municipality of Ribnica and repeated his term in 1998. Since 2002, he has been a municipal councillor in Ribnica. His guideline is: Because not everything can be arranged in a short time, perseverance and patience are needed.