By: Peter Jančič (Spletni časopis)
“It is nice that you still remember the ad from 2008, and I am surprised that you recognised yourself or recognised that I am talking about the SDS party, as I do not mention it anywhere. And five thousand six hundred euros, you do not have the correct information there either. I just want to say that you are spreading lies and unverified information, discrediting me, and I ask you to stop.”
This is how Marta Kos responded to Žan Mahnič and other SDS MPs at the Committee on European Affairs on Wednesday night, who accused her of a full-page propaganda ad she published in the Dnevnik newspaper before the 2008 elections. Her claim that she did not mention SDS is untrue – or even a lie. Surely, she knows what she published. The ad mentioned SDS multiple times. It was as follows:
I am ashamed, that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in connection with the broadcast of the Finnish national television YLE, sent a note to the Finnish government with two diplomatic notes and exerted pressure on them.
I am even more ashamed, that despite the response of Finnish government officials and institutions, their government did not want to engage in the criminal investigation of their media, and we will continue, according to Dimitrij Rupel, “with this policy as long as they want”.
I am ashamed, that the public relations officer of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia, Nina Orel, used her work phone and computer for the campaign of the ruling SDS party.
I am even more ashamed, that the Minister of Culture, Vasko Simoniti, later stated that this was a mistake, but that it caused no harm.
I am ashamed, that the Slovenian police took over a year to act after filing 5 Interpol complaints.
I am even more ashamed, that the Minister of Internal Affairs, Dragutin Mate, later said that no harm was done.
I am ashamed, that the most powerful party of the current ruling coalition, Janša’s SDS, manipulated an online poll on the website of Žurnal, and Janez Janša garnered 122,513 votes in the vote.
I am even more ashamed, that the SDS party later stated that they did it because it was technically possible. The SDS used a system that was also used by Sandra Letica, the head of public relations for SDS, on the Žurnal24 website.
I am ashamed, that the wife of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, Meta Rupel, used her official car to drive her husband to private purchases.
I am even more ashamed, that the Minister of Public Administration, Gregor Virant, did not want to comment on the conduct of Minister Rupel, who used his official car, but neither confirmed nor denied whether this violated the government’s code of conduct.
I am sad, as I write this.
I am even sadder, because I know that many feel the same way, but remain silent.
If you are ashamed of the moral breakdown as well, do something!
Marta Kos Marko, a citizen of the Republic of Slovenia
The transcript of her unusual statement, where she accuses others of spreading lies while doing so herself, is as follows:
PRESIDENT FRANC BREZNIK: You cannot.
MAG. MARTA KOS (candidate for the European Commission from the Republic of Slovenia): Okay. I would be interested to know if you could specify once what the allegations were, because I have not heard anything about that. /voices from the hall/
It is nice that you still remember the ad from 2008, and that you recognised yourself.
37th track: (VP) 21:00
(continuation) or recognised, that I am speaking about the SDS party, in fact, I never mention it anywhere. And about the 5,600 euros, you also do not have the correct information; you are spreading lies and unverified information and discrediting me, and I kindly ask you to stop. …
Meanwhile, interestingly altered propaganda posters against Marta Kos are circulating on social media. The latest one is as follows:
I am ashamed, that I became an informant for the UDBA as a student.
I am even more ashamed, that I continued this work even in Germany at Deutsche Welle radio.
I am ashamed, because as the head of Drnovšek’s government office, I informed about internal events within the government and unlawfully reported to my brother Drago and Milan Kučan.
I am even more ashamed, that Dr Janez Drnovšek, the Prime Minister of the government, discovered this and fired me from the office.
I am ashamed, that I cooperated with my brother Drago Kos in spreading lies about Patria.
I am even more ashamed, that I was corruptly rewarded with the position of ambassador to Germany, even though I had no prior diplomatic experience.
I am ashamed, that I behaved dictatorially toward my subordinates at the embassy in Germany.