By: Dr Metod Berlec
The post-referendum political developments indicate that the ruling establishment was only slightly – if at all – sobered by the outcome of the referendum on privileged pensions. We continue to witness their arrogant and self-serving behaviour, along with self-praise from the ruling figures, including Prime Minister Robert Golob.
There are, however, signs of symbolic tactical shifts. At the proposal of the ruling coalition, the controversial government media law was withdrawn from the May regular session of the National Assembly. According to experts, by postponing the third reading of this law, the possibility of a veto by the National Council and potential opposition efforts to collect signatures for a referendum will be made more difficult, as everything will fall into the summer period. This suggests that the ground is beginning to shake under the feet of the ruling coalition, and that they are at least partially aware that they are in troubled waters and no longer enjoy the broad support of the electorate they had during the last parliamentary elections, when they received massive backing – especially the Gibanje Svoboda as the party of so-called “new faces.”
In contrast, the SDS party, as the main opposition party, stands on much firmer ground. On Saturday, it held its electoral congress in Ormož. Even before the event, the membership had re-elected the current president and three-time prime minister, Janez Janša, by a plebiscitary majority – a result that was formally announced at the congress. In his speech of thanks, Janša emphasised that SDS will, until the next elections – which are less than a year away – build only a “coalition with voters,” saying it is time to “win back the stolen country for Slovenians.” Discussions about forming a government with others will take place after the election. SDS has set two fundamental conditions for any future coalition partners. Anyone joining an SDS-led government must strictly respect the Slovenian constitution and the commitments outlined in the European Parliament resolution condemning all totalitarian regimes. According to Janša, anyone who cannot meet this minimum places themselves outside the constitutional and European democratic framework. He also declared that SDS will never again form a government without a solid and clear programmatic majority. If no agreement is reached on key development policies, “we will simply wait,” he said. SDS, after all, is a “firm, strong, and resilient party built to endure as long as the Slovenian state exists.”
In his speech, SDS leader Janša presented a series of well-argued criticisms of the transitional left, which he sees as the “Achilles’ heel of the country.” One can certainly agree with him. We have never had such an anti-Slovenian, harmful, incompetent, and self-serving ruling political establishment. In contrast, Janša claims SDS offers a clear alternative, fighting and striving for the prosperity of all Slovenian citizens. “It is the only party in the country with the knowledge, experience, and human resources to lead Slovenia onto a new path.”