By: Dr Metod Berlec
Last Wednesday, Slovenian flags once again proudly waved at Republic Square in Ljubljana. At a rally organised by the party Voice of Pensioners and the 1st October Association, led by Pavel Rupar, signatures were collected for a petition calling for early elections. The government was once again sent a clear message: they have had enough.
At the rally, speakers from various opposition political parties took the stage. Protesters paid particularly close attention to the speech of SDS president Janez Janša. According to him, bringing about change requires a great deal of goodwill, courage, and reason – along with a major victory in the next parliamentary elections. The first test will be the referendum on pension supplements for exceptional artistic achievements. This, he claimed, will be a referendum on privileges granted to the so-called “uncultured elite”. “It will also be a referendum against this insane government. And a strong result against it will shorten the lifespan of this deranged madness,” Janša declared. He believes that elections must be held as soon as possible to secure a constitutional majority. To amend the constitution, at least two-thirds of all members of parliament – 60 MPs – must vote in favour. Janša sees the formula for success in the upcoming elections as: “Whoever is not against us is with us.” Once a two-thirds majority is achieved, it will be possible to enshrine common sense in the constitution, protect freedom of speech, shield people’s wallets from unreasonable taxes, and guarantee the right to dignity and normalcy. These are certainly goals that require not only opposition efforts but also the full engagement of the centre-right civil society.
Monday marked three years since the brutal Russian aggression against Ukraine began. This European country, often referred to as the “gateway to Europe” due to its geographical position, finds itself in a dire situation. In the east, it is battling the advancing Russian army, while signals from the West are anything but encouraging. With the new U.S. administration, there has been a shift in attitude toward this war-torn nation. American aid will no longer be unconditional but will take on a more business-oriented approach. At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump aims to end this war as soon as possible. Among Slovenian politicians, Janez Janša appears to have the most level-headed and realistic view on how to resolve the situation. He sees the solution in the long-term strengthening of both Ukraine and NATO.
Positive news is coming from Germany, where the centre-right CDU/CSU union has won the federal elections. The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) followed in second place, while the Social Democrats came in third. The Greens and the Left Party also secured entry into parliament. Germany will now have a more right-leaning government, which is expected to be beneficial for the European Union, hopefully bringing an end to leftist absurdities.