By: Dr Metod Berlec
On the 34th Anniversary of the Declaration of the Independent and Sovereign Republic of Slovenia, we are filled with joy, pride, and a deep sense of responsibility for our long-desired national state. The state of the Slovenian nation and its citizens. Statehood Day, June 25th, 1991, is not only an important milestone in our history, but also the beginning of our statehood. It marks the moment when the Slovenian nation, under the leadership of the DEMOS coalition in the first democratic parliament, adopted the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Slovenia and the Fundamental Constitutional Charter on the Independence and Sovereignty of the Republic of Slovenia. With this act, under the leadership of Dr Jože Pučnik, Dr Dimitrij Rupel, Lojze Peterle, Igor Bavčar, Janez Janša, and other key figures of that pivotal time, our nation affirmed its commitment to freedom, sovereignty, and democracy. This historic decision was based on the plebiscite of December 23rd, 1990, when the people clearly expressed their will to live in an independent and sovereign state of the Slovenian nation, and on the sacrifices made during the War for Slovenia in 1991.
The independent Slovenian state was ceremonially proclaimed on June 26th, 1991, at Republic Square in Ljubljana. The Slovenian socialist tricolour with the red star was lowered from the flagpole, and the Slovenian tricolour with the new coat of arms of the democratic Republic of Slovenia was ceremonially raised. Already the next day, on June 27th, 1991, in the early morning hours, the Yugoslav Federal Army launched an attack on Slovenia. But the army broke its teeth in Slovenia – it was completely defeated. This was followed by the Brioni Declaration and then the decision of the SFRY Presidency that the Yugoslav People’s Army (YPA) would withdraw from Slovenia. By the end of October 1991, there were no more foreign soldiers in Slovenia. We were finally alone on our own land.
Today, 34 years later, we find ourselves in worrying circumstances. For the past three years, we have been governed by a left-wing political establishment that acts contrary to the values upon which our country was founded. It passes decrees and laws damaging to national interests, undermines economic stability with an increasingly heavy tax burden, spreads ideological division, and clings to socialist delusions that have already proven misguided in the past. Such policies erode the social consensus necessary for a healthy and stable future, especially in times of geopolitical upheaval. The balance of power is shifting, conflicts are becoming more frequent, and Europe’s security architecture is under strain. The war in Ukraine, the Middle East, and U.S.-China rivalry all remind us that peace is not a given. As a member of the EU and NATO, we must strengthen our security and defence strategy. We must not forget that independence is not to be taken for granted. It was won through the will of the people, persistence, and sacrifice. Only with the same dedication can we ensure that Slovenia remains a strong, secure, and proud homeland for future generations.