By: Dr Matevž Tomšič
The recently concluded Bled Strategic Forum was an excellent illustration of the state of Slovenia’s ruling politics and the position in which the country has found itself under its leadership. International participation in the event was rather modest. With the exception of two leading representatives of European Union institutions – President of the European Council António Costa and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas – no key political player was present.
There were no presidents of the European Commission or the European Parliament, no prime ministers or foreign ministers from the largest EU countries – in fact, with the exception of the Vatican’s foreign minister, not a single leading politician from any Western state was present.
So where was the so-called “core Europe,” the one that Golob’s government supposedly promised to “bring us into”? Let us recall that during its predecessor’s term (which, according to the then opposition, was supposedly leading Slovenia away from that Europe), participation at this forum was by far more eminent. Janez Janša – whatever grudges some may have held against him for his provocative and not always carefully considered statements – was a relevant European leader. Robert Golob and his team are anything but.
The excuses for the absence of Western representatives, namely that this year’s forum was focused on the Western Balkans, are highly unconvincing. The event’s title, “A World in Escape”, is anything but regionally oriented. Moreover, the discussions revolved around European unity and how the EU could become a relevant global actor. But how could that be achieved without the participation of its most important member states?
Slovenia has found itself on the political, and broader, periphery of European and global affairs due to the misguided orientation and absurd actions of its current rulers. Instead of pragmatism in addressing the issues within their competence, they are driven by ideological blindness. And not only in domestic matters, but also in international relations. When they are not squandering taxpayers’ money for their own pleasures, they play the role of self-styled “saviours of the world.” In this, they are very similar to the former Yugoslav communist rulers, who not only created at home a so-called “unique” system that proved to be a total failure, but also sought to shape world politics through the Non-Aligned Movement. Tito and his circle failed at this, and Golob’s circle is failing even more.
That is why their claims of “putting Slovenia back on the world map” come across as bizarre boasting by those utterly detached from reality. The pathetic posturing against Israel over its treatment of Palestinians impresses only international (ultra-)leftist circles. When President Nataša Pirc Musar once again brandished the word “genocide” in relation to Gaza at the Bled event, she was met with applause only from her domestic sympathisers – foreign statesmen calmly remained seated without clapping. And when she went on to pressure the Croats to finally recognise Palestine, she likely ensured that their prime minister, Andrej Plenković, will think twice before accepting an invitation to attend this event again.
And, of course, this year’s forum could not pass without the “indispensable” leftist protesters, who caused a stir over the alleged responsibility of the European Union for the suffering of Palestinians. Yet this was by no means a protest against the current government, but rather a demonstration of support for it. These were the same people who staged the so-called cycling protests against Janša’s third government and who have all along acted in close cooperation with the current ruling establishment. One could even say they are an integral part of it, its NGO branch. It cannot be ruled out that the Bled protest itself was organised in coordination with the authorities (otherwise, how could the protesters even have gained access to the venue?). It is therefore understandable that such bizarre theatre fails to attract the attention of most serious political decision-makers.
