By: Edvard Kadič
The government recently adopted a decree mandating work obligations in the healthcare sector even during strikes. Considering past experiences, this directive sounds like a bad joke. These same individuals were vehemently opposed to such actions just two years ago. This move is just one of many that highlight the deeply rooted lust for power within the ruling structure, transcending ordinary political boundaries.
Lust for power is not a new phenomenon. It is an enduring aspiration that manifests in various forms throughout human history. From dictatorships to democracies, from small communities to global superpowers, traces of this unstoppable desire for control and leadership can be found everywhere. In modern times, this tendency has become even more pronounced with the emergence of complex political systems and technologies that enable broader surveillance and manipulation.
Slovenia is not an exception to this global trend. The recent decree on mandatory work in healthcare reveals how the government is using its power to achieve goals that go beyond ordinary democratic processes. This measure was adopted under the pretext of safeguarding public health, but many see it as an abuse of power that restricts the rights of employees and distorts the fundamental values of democracy. Interestingly, at the end of 2021, the Constitutional Court made a ruling stating that governing through decrees is against the constitution, despite the general danger to citizens posed by the epidemic at that time. This decision was related to the measure of the so-called PC obligation (being vaccinated or having recovered) for employees in the state administration. The police union proposed the measure for constitutional review. The Janša government adhered to the Constitutional Court’s decisions, while the Golob government did not.
A look at the global stage provides a broader insight into this issue. Events in the United States, such as Joe Biden taking office after controversial elections in 2021, reveal the divisions and tensions that can arise from political upheavals. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed how well-organised groups can exploit extraordinary circumstances to strengthen their power. The Janša government triggered such panic among the transitional left even before its appointment in 2020 that leftist street activists were immediately called to the front. For over two years, we witnessed a situation most comparable to the times of Hitler’s rise in Germany or Mussolini’s in Italy. We experienced the synchronisation of street activism, mainstream media, and the judicial branch of power. Today, we live with the consequences of such a state under the rule of Robert Golob.
PEOPLE WHO ASPIRE TO POWER OFTEN SEEK VALIDATION, A SENSE OF SECURITY, OR A WAY TO COMPENSATE FOR THEIR OWN INSECURITY.
The lust for power is not merely a political or social phenomenon but also has deep psychological roots. People aspiring to power often seek validation, a sense of security, or a means to compensate for their own insecurity. This tendency can manifest in various forms, from subtle influence on others to overt takeover of control and manipulation. These are individuals who base their value system on ruling. They do not understand governance as something earned through the trust of voters due to credibility and good past performance. Instead, they see it as something given to them, a natural state. They do not believe they are capable of surviving without power. Therefore, they must do everything to stay in power. Literally everything, including serial violations of ethical and moral principles.
The key question arising from this is how societies can balance the legitimate need for governance while safeguarding democratic values and rights. This requires transparency, accountability, and active citizen participation in the political process. Additionally, firm boundaries of power must be established to prevent abuses and ensure that authority remains a service to the people rather than a tool for satisfying personal ambitions.
The lust for power is, therefore, a complex phenomenon that demands constant attention and reflection. Governments and individuals must be committed to preserving and safeguarding fundamental values that enable societies to thrive in the spirit of freedom, equality, and fraternity. Only in this way can we ensure that the history of abuses and manipulations does not repeat itself and that power always serves the common good, not just a handful at the top. The lust for power has no inherent political colour; it is a colour in itself. In the Slovenian case, however, it currently has decorative feathers.