By: Gašper Blažič
I had the luck – actually, the privilege – of participating in the production of Ionesco’s famous play The Bald Soprano in 2009, just before Christmas. On stage, one feels even more strongly the message of this anti-comedy, which satirises the banality, conformity, and emptiness of the bourgeoisie – whatever that term may mean. The title itself is absurd in its own way, seemingly derived from a line that the author, the French Romanian playwright Eugène Ionesco, may have spontaneously created. It comes from a brief exchange between the Fire Chief and Mrs. Smith: “By the way, what about the bald soprano?” “She still combs her hair the same way as before.”
This combination of absurdity, shallowness, and repetition on stage recently came to mind when I came across news about a supposedly saccharine letter that Ljubljana’s mayor, Zoran Janković, sent to his friend, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. This was merely an extension of Janković’s grotesque claim that the tragedy in Novi Sad – where a collapsed canopy killed fifteen people – was being exploited for political purposes. Yes, Zoran was brutally honest in his statements! So much so that even leftist activists had to speak up and scold him while simultaneously supporting the protesters in Serbia. But Ljubljana’s Zoran is no ordinary figure – he is, after all, the real boss behind Golob’s government, constantly ensuring that these same activists are financially well taken care of. If they ever feel neglected, the “political bikers” step in to inform the public that the government is failing to deliver on the promises made by coalition parties before the elections. And it is no coincidence that these activists have remained silent about Janković’s shady dealings, not even when he endangered drinking water with his infamous “sewage pipeline”!
At the same time, Zoran has proven to be useful in another way – his letter quickly shattered the leftist myth that Vučić is some sort of Serbian version of Janez Janša, supposedly employing similar authoritarian tactics. Years ago, during a visit to Croatia, the “sheriff” proudly boasted that no one could touch him precisely because he was Janša’s opponent. This allowed him to hoist the rainbow flag at City Hall and present Ljubljana as a welcoming city for those who embrace same-sex partnerships, gender theories, and other forms of woke decadence. Even when he clashed with activists in the former Rog factory, it was quickly forgotten, and “Zoki” was back in charge. He could happily do business with Vučić without raising so much as an eyebrow from Ljubljana’s leftist circles. And when he sank to such a barbaric level that he still refuses to allow the burial of Roma individuals – whose protectors supposedly include the same activists now complaining about his letter – not a single one of these moral guardians spoke out. On the contrary: all this time, his debts were written off, and legal charges against him were bogged down in procedural dead ends, allowing him to repeatedly escape criminal prosecution.
Janković’s true status in Slovenian politics only became clear when journalists asked both President Nataša Pirc Musar and Prime Minister Robert Golob for their opinions. Neither wanted to comment on Serbia’s internal political situation, even though just days earlier, Pirc Musar expressed “great concern” over Austria’s new government. Meanwhile, Golob elegantly dodged a direct response, saying that everyone has the right to their own political views – though he conveniently forgot to add, as long as their name is “Zoki”. When it comes to the opposition, a different standard applies. There is no room for debate about diverse political perspectives because “they” (“Janševiks”) are not seen as legitimate opponents but as enemies and saboteurs.
As for Milan Kučan, he clearly did not remain neutral – he openly supported the Serbian student protests. This is telling and indicates fractures within Slovenia’s transitional left. But one thing remains unchanged: The Bald Soprano will continue combing her hair the same way – until the day Slovenians take to the streets as well…