By: Nejc Brence, SDS
Slovenia was hit by natural disasters last week. It was severe. They were the worst in the history of modern Slovenia. Unfortunately, some people were left without a roof over their heads, floods inundated living spaces for some, others were cut off from the world due to the destroyed road infrastructure, and the disasters also brought the darkest scenarios – human casualties.
Slovenian men and women have come together in these difficult times, as we always do when the situation is serious and harsh. A big thank you goes to professional and volunteer firefighters, civil defence units across the country, Slovenian Armed Forces members, mayors, and all volunteers who selflessly provided assistance for their quick response and for saving lives and property. Slovenia has once again demonstrated its solidarity.
Unfortunately, the work has only just begun. Ahead of us lies a period of road, bridge, house, and overall infrastructure repair – everything that the disaster has destroyed or damaged. The damage is immeasurable and cannot be realistically assessed. A greater burden than before will fall on local communities as they face the challenge of rebuilding a vast amount of municipal infrastructure. Regrettably, these communities lack the necessary resources, as in recent years, additional responsibilities have been placed upon them without corresponding financial support.
Slovenian municipalities are currently facing the challenge of increasing expenses for their administrative roles and co-financing programmes (e.g., in kindergartens) due to inflation, constant raises in the minimum wage, and expanding responsibilities. However, since the average funding remains nearly the same, there is a lack of resources for investments. At times, it seems that left-leaning governments view municipalities as institutions that take away their funds and constantly demand more. This is a misconception.
Local self-governance is the foundation. Mayors, municipal council members, and employees in municipal administrations are far better attuned to the needs of their constituents than bureaucrats and politicians in Ljubljana. Indeed, disasters have once again demonstrated that the key to a more developed and operationally efficient Slovenia lies in decentralisation, in enhancing the power of local communities. Why?
- In addition to the recovery efforts, a more crucial moment awaits Slovenia – ensuring future security. The management of watercourses should be entrusted to municipalities, as local self-governance is much more attuned to the needs of watercourse management within each municipality than centralised authorities in Ljubljana. This way, funds could be allocated far more effectively. However, the transfer of responsibilities alone will not suffice. It is essential that, alongside transferring responsibilities to municipalities, the state also provides funding for flood protection. Only in this manner can municipalities in the future prevent or at least limit potential floods.
- The efficacy of post-natural disaster recovery will be compromised if it is led by the central government. Funds need to be channelled to those who understand the local context and requirements for recovery – the municipalities. It is crucial to systematically address this area moving forward, as in situations such as natural disasters, every moment counts and comes with a cost. Each day spent seeking legal grounds for fund transfers amidst a natural catastrophe adds significant multi-million damages to the equation.
Slovenia is indeed facing several critical questions for its future. One of the most important ones revolves around whether the state will continue to treat municipalities with neglect and consistently increase their expenses without providing the necessary funds. Will the government persist in viewing local self-governance as insignificant?
It is time to set priorities. Will the funds be directed through local communities to benefit citizens, or will they continue to be allocated to expand the state’s bureaucratic machinery and pro-government activist forces? In addressing this question, Robert Golob’s government will demonstrate its true aim: is it to aid citizens and promote the nation’s development through local communities, or is it solely focused on maintaining power? Thus far, their actions have pointed in the latter direction. They have cut significant infrastructure projects and redirected funds to pro-government organisations that helped them come into power and maintain their position. We can only hope that the recent natural disaster will awaken Golob’s government, bring it closer to the people, and prompt it to work in the interest of citizens. The path it chooses will be revealed over time.
