By: Dr. Metod Berlec
The president of the movement Voice for Children and Families, Aleš Primc, together with the parties SDS, NSi, and SLS, and with the support of the Catholic Church and its believers, succeeded in collecting over 46,000 signatures to call a referendum on the law concerning assistance in voluntary end-of-life decisions. This represents a clear message from concerned citizens that they seek a debate on fundamental ethical questions, rather than a law that opens the door to abuse and violations of the constitutional principle of the inviolability of life. It would be reasonable for the referendum to be held alongside the parliamentary elections – resulting in a dual decision about Slovenia’s future. But this is unlikely, as it does not politically suit the ruling left-wing coalition.
Meanwhile, we are witnessing events that suggest the parliamentary elections are fast approaching. First and foremost is the highly controversial house search of former Minister of the Interior and SDS Vice President Aleš Hojs, based on accusations that do not hold water, and the seizure of his phone. At the same time, Prime Minister Robert Golob has received a second draft decision from the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (CPC), confirming a breach of integrity in the Bobnar case – “Janšists” due to his pressure on the former Minister of the Interior and the police. Additionally, the CPC has issued a draft of findings in the Karigador case. In this instance, Golob is suspected of a conflict of interest, having compromised the independence of his government’s decision-making by vacationing privately with businessman Tomaž Subotič. Just last week, it became known that the Specialised State Prosecutor’s Office filed a request for judicial investigation in the Bobnar case. If the investigating judge accepts the request, Golob will become a defendant, marking the beginning of criminal proceedings. To top it off, an extraordinary inspection of the Prime Minister’s security service uncovered multiple violations of labour law. As a result, the inspector fined the government’s Secretary General, Barbara Kolenko Helbl. The salaries of Golob’s security personnel, some of questionable reputation, have skyrocketed, further highlighting his extravagant management of public funds.
All this suggests that even the post-communist networks in the background, long controlled by the last party chief Milan Kučan, are abandoning Golob. He is clearly no longer the main asset of the transitional left. Increasing signs point to a shift in focus toward the “new face” Vladimir Prebilič, who is founding a new political party on October 18. The media space, previously reserved for Golob, will thus open up to Prebilič as the “new face” expected to capture centre-left votes and preserve the continuity of the deep state. In this way, the transitional left will attempt to stay in power with the help of a “new face”, at any cost, as the investigation of Hojs suggests. In this context, the likelihood of early elections is growing…