By: Nina Žoher
“Against the Political Police” is the slogan that has been attracting particular attention these days in the run-up to the referendum.
Those campaigning against the amendment to the Parliamentary Inquiry Act have enlisted several well-known public figures, who are telling people that they do not want others rummaging through their bank accounts or reviewing their phone records. Understandably, such claims alarm many people, since no one wants their privacy invaded. Especially because these messages are coming from individuals outside the political sphere, many citizens may not realise that this is a political slogan that has little to do with the actual content of the legislative amendment.
What the situation is really like was also explained on a television programme on Planet TV by the well-known legal scholar Dr Rajko Pirnat. According to him, the slogan about political police is merely a political catchphrase with no legal meaning. He stated clearly: “This is not a police force, because a parliamentary inquiry has no police powers whatsoever.” He emphasised that a parliamentary inquiry may investigate only public office holders and officials, not ordinary citizens, contrary to claims that have frequently been made in public debate. According to Pirnat, the assertion that ordinary people will be investigated is a “completely unbelievable construction.” In his view, an ordinary citizen could only appear before a parliamentary inquiry as a witness.
Because it is obvious that not everyone follows politics on a daily basis, people are naturally more susceptible to manipulation when forming opinions on public issues. The easiest way to avoid being misled is to examine the actual content of the legislation oneself. Therefore, the responsibility lies with each of us to review the matter firsthand and only then form an opinion, whatever that opinion may be. So let us think for ourselves and recognise the importance of active citizenship. Every vote counts.