By: Dr Metod Berlec
Just over two months separate us from the parliamentary elections, which will take place on 22 March. That is why we put Prime Minister and Freedom Movement leader Robert Golob, as well as SDS president Janez Janša, on the magazine’s cover.
The first knows his time in power is running out, which is why he is using and abusing every lever of authority, every backstage network and event, to hold on to power. With our taxpayers’ money, the ruling left‑wing coalition is showering regime‑aligned media and polling agencies in an attempt to improve its public‑opinion ratings. As a result, we are witnessing an orchestrated promotion of the ruling nomenclature and bitter attacks on the opposition led by the SDS. That we are deep in pre‑election season is also evident from the fact that the court fined the SDS €60,000 for alleged irregularities in the 2022 election campaign, despite the Court of Audit not issuing a negative opinion on the party’s final report.
First example. Last weekend, Prime Minister Robert Golob appeared at partisan commemorations practically for the first time in his term. First on Saturday at Osankarica on Pohorje, then on Sunday in Dražgoše. He was the keynote speaker at both events. This shows that the post‑communist power brokers in the background, despite considerable irritation, still support him as the favourite of the transitional left. Even though it is clear that Golob could not care less about the so‑called National Liberation Struggle. This made his speeches all the more empty, misleading, and pathetic. He spoke of historical unity among Slovenians at the time, while “overlooking”, like a complete ignoramus, that there was no unity whatsoever between 1941 and 1945. Žiga Turk therefore wrote on X: “The first targets were class enemies, Slovenians, while the occupier was collateral damage. Similarly, Golob now talks about unity, yet in four years he has not managed to agree on anything with the opposition. Instead, he launched a cold civil war, which he called “cleansing of Janšists” and later “depoliticisation”. Such a disconnect from reality is possible only because of media servility.”
Second example. A few days ago, SDS president Janez Janša was accused of planning to abolish all NGOs if he comes to power after the next elections. This is, of course, far from the truth. At a meeting with voters in Mengeš last Thursday, the opposition leader merely stressed that in the next term there would be no more money for left‑wing NGOs. He further clarified this on X: “In the SDS there are many volunteers of the Red Cross and Caritas, organisers of sports and cultural associations, various charitable foundations, etc. Thousands of members of other parties are active in these organisations as well. All these organisations and associations will receive more funding in the next term. But the taps of taxpayers’ money will be shut off for the paramilitary of left‑wing regime feeders who fatten themselves on the backs of the Slovenian working person while providing no benefit. We will not abolish them. They can continue clowning around on their own dime.”