By: Klea Jeretič
With the quiet normalisation of abuses. With politically biased decisions. With the loss of trust in institutions that should protect all of us, not just those in power.
And when this starts to happen, it is no longer about isolated incidents. It is about the disintegration of the system. The breakdown of social trust. The erosion of fundamental values. One of those values is political pluralism. Different ideas, positions, and perspectives are not a flaw in the system – they are its very purpose. Every citizen has the right to be represented by those they chose. And when a party, voted for by nearly a quarter of the electorate, is systematically excluded – silenced, removed from decision-making – it is no longer just an attack on the opposition. It becomes an insult to the people. To their will. To their dignity.
What we are witnessing today is no longer legitimate political struggle. It is an abuse of power. A denial of the fundamental principle that, in a democracy, power comes from the people. If those in power act only for themselves, if they pursue personal grudges instead of the common good, then they no longer respect democracy. Then they are not leading the country – they are dismantling it. Politics should bring people together. It should seek common ground, even in the face of differences. But today, it has become a space of exclusion, discreditation, and hatred. Instead of cooperation, we see revenge. And in this division, we all lose. Every side, every individual, every future generation.
That is why we – the young – must not remain silent. We are the ones who will live the longest in this country. And if we now allow abuses to become the norm, we will be the ones living in a world where justice, truth, and equality before the law are just empty words on paper. The abuse of the judiciary for political purposes is not just a Slovenian issue. It is part of a dangerous global trend. More and more often, we see political persecution carried out in the name of legality. But law without justice is nothing more than a tool of power. And when the judiciary loses credibility – when it becomes selective – everything begins to collapse: freedom of speech, human rights, everything. Of course, not all judges are bad. Many do their work conscientiously, honestly, with a deep sense of justice. But their efforts are increasingly overshadowed by growing systemic anomalies. What would have been unthinkable just a few years ago is now becoming the new normal. And that is not right. That is not the kind of country we deserve.
The case of Janez Janša, in this context, is more than just a legal matter. It is a symbol. A symbol of someone who has endured politically motivated attacks, discrediting, and attempts at silencing for years. It is an attempt to destroy his reputation. But in truth, it is about something more – it is about silencing everyone who thinks differently. In this story, who you are does not matter – what matters is that each of us understands what it means when the system begins to work against the individual instead of protecting them. This fight is not just about one man. It is a fight for democracy. For principles that are neither left nor right. They are universal. They are the foundation of any society that wants to be free, open, and just. And this fight is not only fought in court. Each of us fights it – when we say: enough. And the next opportunity to do that is May 11th – the referendum against privileges. That is when we will have the chance to clearly, decisively, and calmly say: enough. The SDS party is growing today because people feel that no one is listening to them anymore. Because more and more people have had enough of exclusion, revenge, and abuse. This is no longer about ideology – it is about a basic sense of fairness. It is about the kind of country we want to live in. And whether we dare to start building it. It is up to us to protect the foundations of the rule of law. Not to allow ourselves to be divided by party affiliation. To be united by a common desire – that every voice be heard. That everyone be equal before the law.
This is not about one political orientation.
It is about our common future.
It is about Slovenia.
