By: Dr. Metod Berlec
On the latest cover of Demokracija, we depicted Prime Minister Robert Golob as Louis XIV of France (1643–1715).
The latter was known as the sun king, who gave great importance to external splendour. He continued the absolutist policies of his predecessors and even expanded upon them. His famous words are well known: “L’état, c’est moi” – “I am the State.” The goal of his domestic policy was to create and maintain a system of absolute power: the king ruled without hindrance, unthreatened by representative bodies, but with the assistance of ministers and councils subject to his will. He did not convene the estates-general and largely disregarded parliament. High nobilities were mostly excluded from political offices, while loyal bourgeois officials advanced. He was regarded as a master of ruling skills. However, behind the splendour symbolised particularly by the new, lavish court at Versailles and the state successes in foreign policy, lay problems in the internal structure of the state – spiritual lack of freedom, weakened state finances, and economic stagnation.
The above briefly listed characteristics of the reign of the Sun King at least partially resemble the ruling ambitions of Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob. However, the latter is by no means a master of “ruling skills” nor does he have any achievements in foreign policy. The only similarity is that he desires absolute power (systematic subjugation of all three branches of power and attacks on institutions that hold up a mirror to him), and that he revels in the splendour that comes with the position of prime minister. Additionally, Slovenia under his government faces numerous structural problems, weakened state finances, and economic stagnation. That he greatly enjoys the splendour was shown this past weekend when he attended the ceremonial reopening of the renovated Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. Although neither he nor Tina Gaber are religious, they rushed to “this unique event for both France and the Catholic Church” only to coincidentally meet the newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump – even though Golob previously labelled Trump as a representative of those who violate international law. “Today, the whole world is waiting for these elections because they believe that the same issues – democracy and the rule of law – will be decided again. All those who violate international law are seriously counting on one candidate. I, however, believe that the entire free-thinking world is counting on the female candidate.” But for a good photo, which he later shares on social media, Golob and Gaber are willing to do anything – even forget their previous political stances, if they even had any – and humbly wait for a few moments of attention from the very politician he publicly criticised before.
Let us return to Golob’s totalitarian tendencies and the subjugation of all branches of power and state institutions. This is evident in the reduction of budget funds for key oversight institutions such as the Court of Audit and the National Council of Slovenia. These are institutions that have been critical of some actions of Golob’s government. Last week, Golob also expressed frustration before and after his hearing at the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (CPC). Although this is an institution that is systematically misused for political purposes, his claim that he had to defend himself before the commission because he “advocated for the depoliticization of the police” is a stunning act of pretence. Previously, he publicly claimed that he demanded the “cleansing of Janša supporters.” Therefore, he acted unconstitutionally. Last year, he already subordinated the national public broadcaster RTV Slovenija, and now he seeks to win over the entire public sector, particularly the judiciary, with higher wages. That is why today’s protest in Celje, against unjust trials, is very justified.
P.S. As of today, December 12th, 2024, we have unfortunately been forced to raise the price of Demokracija magazine to €4.49 per issue. For existing subscribers, the subscription price will increase as of January 1st, 2025. After the New Year, the magazine will also be released in a new graphic design. We hope that you will continue to purchase/read us or remain our subscribers, as we have come under attack from the ruling totalitarian coalition. I myself was interrogated in mid-November at the Bežigrad police station because of the Pogled column in the magazine. I was reported by the leftist activist Domen Savič, who presents himself as Citizen D and apparently has nothing better to do than play the role of an UDBA informant. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Jože Biščak and Boris Tomašič were interrogated before a parliamentary inquiry commission led by Gibanje Svoboda MP Tamara Vonta. The commission is supposedly investigating suspicions of illegal financing of political parties, but as its former chairwoman Mojca Šetinc Pašek publicly admitted, it was established with the aim of targeting the opposition SDS and media outlets that do not align with their views. Nevertheless, the editorial team of Demokracija will strive to make the magazine as good as possible, worthy of being read.
