By: Vančo K. Tegov
The recording circulating online suggests that we have reached the lowest point in the provision of services by public administration or administrative units for the needs of citizens. The public service is supposed to meet citizens halfway, identify their needs, and resolve their issues as quickly as possible. Is it really so?
Far from it. It is not unlikely that tomorrow or the day after, representatives of complete companies, especially builders, will stand in front of administrative units. They will stand due to the inability to obtain building permits, then due to the procedures for obtaining work permits for those needed by construction companies. Later, they will stand due to increasingly likely serial bankruptcies caused by the inability to work due to almost halted work at the contractors. For many, it will not matter if they offend someone when their livelihood is threatened to the extent that they cannot survive and work to support themselves and their families. Administrative units will become (if they are not already) centres and focal points of disputes, dissatisfaction, obvious anger, and ultimately violence. Anyone passing by these known locations, not heading directly there, will steer clear of them in a wide arc.
Therefore, it is not superfluous for Janez Janša to call on the government, which is the sole generator of the crisis and must or should be the one to address the most urgent resolution of the situation.
What does it say?
The strike at administrative units can quickly end with a constructive approach to negotiations (why has Prime Minister Golob not sat down with the union even once?) and corrections to systematization. Thousands of administrative procedures are on hold, 400,000 people need to renew their personal documents this year. There is significant economic damage accumulating, with hundreds of thousands of hours of taxpayers’ time lost waiting in lines.
It is hard to imagine the reactions of mainstream media and non-governmental organisation political cyclists if the previous government had scored political points on the successes of Slovenian athletes on days like these scenes.
Would they fly to Dallas to see Dončić, who dismissed the prime minister in three seconds, while the prime minister’s fulfilled dreams cost hundreds of thousands of euros? As Jelka Godec, leader of the SDS parliamentary group, mentioned in her speech in parliament, Robert Golob, also the President of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, took an oath to fulfil citizens’ dreams and keep his promises from before taking office. Instead of categorically stating that he will not sit down with any interlocutor or negotiator until September 3rd. Until then, he will be working on fulfilling his childhood dreams.
The worst part is that he is not holding or releasing the unsustainable situation regarding the strike at the administrative units with threats. At least, that is what is being heard. That is why the administrative unit in Slovenska Bistrica has already frozen the strike. There are rumours that other administrative units chiefs are already asking their employees to stop striking. However, the fact that the state, administration, public administration system, and others are gradually falling apart does not concern the left-liberal “Napoleon”.
The time for an appropriate solution is, if the time for childhood dreams lasts for a long time, it will not be good for anyone, least of all for Prime Minister Golob. Surely there will be similar stampedes on videos, not to the first window at the administrative unit in Tobačna or elsewhere, but behind Golob, Tina’s favourite companion.
I hope they will soon start training for short distance running.