By: Dr. Andreja Valič Zver
The recent embarrassments surrounding the infamous European Commissioner Vĕra Jourová make one bitterly smile and simultaneously realise how fragile the European family truly is. Despite the seemingly mighty European machinery, a plethora of agreements and commitments, and, finally, an army of Eurocrats, the “Jourová affair” is a clear example of how an individual’s lack of credibility and unacceptable interference in a member state can severely undermine confidence in the rule of law, which is one of the cornerstones of the European Union’s existence. And that is precisely what happened to Jourová!
As we know, the European Commissioner from the liberal camp is the main character in a thriller whose basic story is known. However, let’s briefly summarise it. The lady visited Slovenia in March 2023, during a fierce battle for changes at the public broadcaster, where, allegedly under Golob’s command, a process of “de-Janša-fication” was supposed to take place. The last bastion of such upheaval was the Slovenian Constitutional Court, which temporarily halted the “de-Janša-fication”, but after Jourová’s visit, it capitulated and gave in to the left scene. They, of course, seized the opportunity and today the situation at the public broadcaster is much worse than it was, for example, in the 1980s during the time of the Slovenian political spring. Where have the critical Slovenian intellectuals, who have often represented the nation’s elite in history and at that time, “hidden” themselves? Why are there no longer reputable commentators with a broader range of knowledge and insights on the public media, which all Slovenian taxpayers are forced to fund? With a few honourable exceptions, today the public or national broadcaster is unfortunately unworthy of its name and mission. Many people feel greatly deceived. Unfortunately, even the so-called new media cannot fully compensate for the absence of still the largest and most respected opinion “leader” – RTV Slovenia. As for the “information” from POP TV, we will not waste words here, as apart from weather forecasts and sports, they are mostly quite unpalatable.
Let’s go back to our commissioner for “transparency”, whatever that word means. Everything indicates that the lady intentionally violated one of the fundamental rules of the EU, namely the principle of subsidiarity, to shamelessly assist her political faction. Let’s not forget that she was arrested in her homeland – in the Czech Republic – on suspicion of corruption. Allegedly, before her meteoric political ascent into the European orbit, she met with Soros (!) several times and is also a regular attendee at the gatherings of the wealthy and influential in Davos. If we were to take conspiracy theories seriously, we could easily classify her as part of the “networked”, unelected decisive elite.
EVERYTHING INDICATES THAT THE LADY INTENTIONALLY VIOLATED ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL RULES OF THE EU, NAMELY THE PRINCIPLE OF SUBSIDIARITY, IN ORDER TO SHAMELESSLY ASSIST HER POLITICAL FACTION.
Thinking about the situation in the Slovenian context, the struggle for access to the archival documents of the former secret political police in the communist system comes to mind. Most of the documents were destroyed, hidden, or taken away at the end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s. Perhaps they are in the archives in Belgrade? Unfortunately, the Cerar government hastily signed an archival agreement during the process of Serbia’s EU approximation, which more or less prevents access to the incriminated archives of the secret services in Belgrade. Under the guise of “personal data protection”, many things can be hidden, including the most reprehensible actions of the former totalitarian regime. When we fought for as unrestricted access as possible to the archives of the former State Security Service (still known among people as UDBA) through referendums in 2011 and 2014, we were accused of vindictiveness and more. However, it is a simple fact that by revealing criminal and lawless activities, future systemic and systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms are also prevented. Therefore, any concealment of truth can be fatal, even if it concerns hiding a reminder for a discussion in the Constitutional Court of an independent and sovereign state of Slovenia!
The struggle of the European Parliament member Milan Zver for the truth will continue regardless of the childish and bizarre move by Jourová, who blocked him on social media last week. With such actions, she only confirms her immaturity and incompetence for any decisive functions that would pave our European destiny in the future.