By: Mitja Iršič
Immediately after the start of Janša’s third government, which achieved record support due to its excellent response to the coronavirus pandemic, a completely media-fabricated “salary scandal” erupted.
What was it about? Every government, at the beginning of its mandate, places officials into civil service salary grades. Since the country was amid the worst crisis in its history, the government decided to assign the officials – who were out in the field during the pandemic, risking infection and working up to 12 hours a day – to the highest salary grade allowed by law. The media’s reaction was explosive. The voice of the announcer on Val202 trembled with righteous indignation. Headlines blazed: “Ministers and state secretaries of the new government with the highest possible salaries” (Svet24/RTV/Delo/STA) and “Government members raise their salaries!” (24ur).
The top news story for a whole week was that the greedy ministers of Janša’s government had raised their salaries, while the public, trapped between four walls, was dying slowly. It was systematic agitation of the people, reminiscent of the propaganda seen in European totalitarian regimes of the 20th century. Of course, there was no salary increase. The difference between the highest and lowest possible grade? About 300 euros. Janša’s government then silenced the agitators by cutting all officials’ salaries by 30% for three months.
At the end of this September, however, the government approved a proposal for a new public sector wage law that will raise the salaries of officials, judges, and mayors by between 40% and 70%. This translates to thousands of euros in higher wages for the highest-paid people at the top of the state administration. Yet, there is no public outrage. Why? Because it is barely mentioned in the media – and if it is, it is buried deep in the article with headlines like: “Government and unions aligned: ‘No salary will be below the minimum’.” (24ur/Delo/N1/Slovenske Novice). Of course, no salaries below the minimum exist, but that is another story.
The problem is not with higher salaries – officials in the country must be well paid if we ever want globally exceptional individuals in these positions, rather than the likes of Roberts, Astas, and Emilijs. The issue is that the media continue to lead the public like sheep from one place to another regarding reactions to political actions. The dysfunctionality of Slovenian society is also a result of the media’s double standards, where politicians on the left can get away with anything, while politicians on the right are demonised, even when they do good work.