By: Nova24tv.si
The official profile of the Republic of Slovenia on the social network X was yesterday afternoon misused to publish serious unlawful accusations against the State of Israel and its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. A specialist in international law argues that such accusations are also punishable under the Slovenian Criminal Code, while political commentator Miran Videtič believes this is childish behaviour and an inferiority complex on the part of Robert Golob, who is struggling to step aside.
“And surely some highly esteemed legal expert in the government knows that making unfounded accusations of genocide, which is an international crime, of war crimes and other serious offences, or of any criminal act, is itself a criminal offence under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Slovenia? Condemnations without courts belong to another era,” commented international law expert Dr Miha Pogačnik regarding the outburst on the social network X.
The government post appeared after Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu congratulated Janez Janša on being elected prime minister. The post directly quoted Robert Golob, the former prime minister, and represented an attack on the new prime minister, Janez Janša.
These were Golob’s words: “Prime Minister Dr Robert Golob: Benjamin Netanyahu today published a message about a conversation with his friend Janez Janša. Under Janez Janša’s leadership, Slovenia will thus become a supporter of Benjamin Netanyahu, an extremist politician, a war criminal, the main culprit for the genocide in Gaza, an oppressor of the human rights of the Palestinian population, a constant violator of the principles of international law, the values of the modern international community, and a politician who is under investigation in Israel for alleged fraud, bribery, and abuse of trust. Janez Janša is thus placing Slovenia on the shameful side of history.”
The message sounds as if it had been written by some far‑left supporter on an anonymous account, or, in the worst case, as if it had been posted by the Freedom Movement party’s own profile on social media. The Freedom Movement, however, does not have an account on X, where the post appeared.
As we have already reported, Golob’s mandate ended under the Slovenian Constitution the moment the new National Assembly was elected. This means that such communication represents a serious breach of the former prime minister’s competences, as he is also responsible for government communication.
We are also checking with UKOM who is responsible for the controversial misuse of the government profile.
A responsible prime minister and the acting head of UKOM?
The outgoing government team carried out several key staffing changes on Friday, before the controversial post appeared on the government’s X profile. Among other things, Petra Bezjak Cirman was dismissed as director of the Government Communication Office, which manages the profile, and replaced by acting director Špela Vovk, former communications adviser to President Borut Pahor. Petra Bezjak Cirman is the wife of journalist Primož Cirman, known for his favourable stance toward the outgoing government. Her dismissal was part of a broader package of removals of several state secretaries, and the official reason cited was “personal reasons”.
Communication stampede before departure
Why did the prime minister use his final days on Gregorčičeva Street for such an undignified exit? And should anyone be held accountable for this misuse of the government’s profile? Who? We asked political commentator Miran Videtič.
“Robert Golob is above all showing that he is a small man, and if I use his own words, a very bad man. If he cannot calmly accept his political incompetence and the fact that he was unable to form a government, he should not project that onto the reputation of the entire country. I noticed they felt compelled to misuse and comment on Netanyahu’s congratulatory message. I myself do not agree with every move of the Israeli government, but I would never behave like this, and I am just an ordinary citizen, not a prime minister. I see that congratulatory message merely as a political gesture, nothing more. I think Janez Janša’s response was the only possible one. He asked Golob why they withdrew their lawsuit if he is now acting like some great moralist.”
“The Slovenian public will have to gradually disconnect from these foolish antics and childish behaviour of Robert Golob and leave him to himself and his circle, so he can deal with his inferiority complexes there.”
And what about the management of the government’s X profile?
Videtič does not give an assessment of legal responsibility for the misuse of the government’s X account, but concludes that from the perspective of the state’s reputation, such posts are unserious and unacceptable.