By: Dr Metod Berlec
It is evident that both the government and its prime minister, Robert Golob, are not even remotely up to the task of the functions they perform. Not to mention the accusations of corruption and clientelism made against them by the opposition in an extraordinary session of the National Assembly last week.
The Government of the Republic of Slovenia, according to the Slovenian Constitution, is the executive authority and the highest body of state administration. It performs a politically executive and administrative function. The politically executive function means that it implements the policies determined by the National Assembly, as well as enforces laws and other regulations passed by the National Assembly. In accordance with the constitution, laws, and other general acts of the National Assembly, the government coordinates, directs, and determines the implementation of the state’s policies. As the highest body of state administration, it issues regulations and adopts legal, economic, political, organisational, financial, and other measures necessary for the development and regulation of matters within the state’s jurisdiction. The government proposes laws, national programmes, the state budget, and other general acts to the National Assembly for adoption, defining the fundamental and long-term political orientations for specific areas within the state’s jurisdiction. According to the constitution (Article 114), the prime minister ensures the unity of the government’s political orientation and coordinates the work of ministries.
Do you think that we have a government and a prime minister capable of handling all these matters? A government that works for the good of the country and its citizens? A government and prime minister that address problems within various economic sectors and society? Absolutely not! Especially when considering that economic activities are divided into four sectors: primary (agriculture, fisheries, forestry, hunting…), secondary (industry, construction, energy, tourism…), tertiary (service activities such as trade, banking, transport, tourism…), and quaternary (healthcare, education, public administration…). In Slovenia, dissatisfaction is growing in several sectors, leading to protests and strikes – from farmers, doctors, judges, employees at administrative units to those working in call centres for information. Instead of Minister of Health Valentina Prevolnik Rupel (who is currently on vacation) and Prime Minister Robert Golob sitting down with representatives of doctors for negotiations, they prefer to attack and discredit them through media outlets subordinate to the government and left-wing political activists like Jaša Jenull. They demonise doctors even though they are burning out weekly due to a shortage in Slovenia. Golob’s government is taking measures to revoke consents for overtime work for doctors and allegedly trying to “protect the public health system”. Under these measures, directors of public institutions can assign doctors to shifts, and providers of emergency medical assistance can organise joint emergency service locations. Fides sees the implementation of shift work as legally extremely challenging and potentially dangerous for patients. In short, another hastily implemented measure that will worsen the situation in healthcare.
However, Robert Golob does not seem to be bothered by this. He has just found a new candidate for the Minister of Justice. And even this person (Andreja Katič) who he had rejected for the position before. He engages in taking selfies with his partner Tina Gaber, like a teenager. As a user on X network commented on their posing in an elevator: “He does not care about − Slovenia and Slovenians − the economy − healthcare − defence − pensioners − youth − education – farmers”. Another user on the network added: “He already made that clear before the elections. The problem is not in him; the problem is in voters who see nothing, hear nothing, and think nothing”. Golob is not even bothered by the fact that his promises are worth nothing. Just recently, it was revealed that those affected by the major fire in Karst 19 months ago still have not received compensation from the state. This is despite Golob making grand promises back then. Flood victims from last year’s August floods continue to listen to promises and the postponement of solutions into an indefinite future.