By: C. R., Nova24tv.si
MPs will, for the second time during this term, discuss a motion of no confidence against Robert Golob’s government, submitted by the SDS party due to Golob’s statements regarding the 2012 pension reform. As expected, the day in the National Assembly will be marked by debate about pensioners. The proposers have not yet submitted any resolutions, but they may do so before the 14-hour debate concludes.
MPs of the largest opposition party have submitted the second motion of no confidence against Golob’s government, triggered by the Prime Minister’s statement that the government led by SDS leader Janez Janša in 2012 significantly reduced the accrual rate for calculating the pension base by nearly 20% during the implementation of that year’s pension reform. According to Golob, this is the root of current pensioners’ problems, as the government at that time effectively worsened their situation.
The proposers of the motion accuse the Prime Minister of deliberately and knowingly spreading falsehoods. In their view, today’s debate should provide an answer to how the 2012 pension reform contributed to halting the further decline in pensions, which had been caused by the reduction in the accrual rate under legislation in effect before 2012.
The government has already responded to the motion by rejecting all accusations, stating that this is an abuse of a legitimate parliamentary instrument, thereby undermining its seriousness and credibility. The cabinet stands by the Prime Minister’s claims regarding the worsening situation for pensioners due to the 2012 reform and highlights the measures they themselves have implemented to improve the position of retirees.
This is the tenth motion of no confidence in the current parliamentary term, and the second targeting the entire government. Such motions are not common in the history of independent Slovenia. Before Golob’s government, similar motions were survived by the governments of Janez Drnovšek, Anton Rop, and Miro Cerar – all motions were filed by the SDS.
At the core of this motion are Golob’s statements about the 2012 pension reform, which was adopted by the second Janša government. Prime Minister Golob will deliver an opening address and present the official response of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia to the motion.
When the motion was submitted, SDS MP Zvone Černač emphasised that this is a necessary political and social debate about the Prime Minister’s statements, accusing him of deliberately misleading the public. Robert Golob had claimed that the ZPIZ-2 law from the Janša era had resulted in reduced accrual rates for pensioners, which, according to SDS, is false.
“These are deliberate lies, spoken at the start of the campaign to collect signatures for the referendum on privileged pensions. The government does not dare defend these privileges with arguments, so it resorts to misleading the public,” Černač said critically. “The Prime Minister is using populist rhetoric to pacify the electorate, especially pensioners, who could overwhelmingly oppose the introduction of privileged pensions of €3,200 at the referendum,” he added.
To recall, on February 21st, SDS publicly called on Prime Minister Robert Golob and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Nataša Sukič to apologise. Since no apology was issued, SDS submitted a motion for her dismissal and the motion of no confidence against the government.
At the centre of the debate is the pension reform adopted through the ZPIZ-2 law in December 2012, which essentially prevented further pension cuts and was the result of consensus among all political parties and social partners. “Instead of facts and professional arguments, Prime Minister Robert Golob and the coalition are using manipulation to hide the true intent of their pension reform, which will reduce future pensions and worsen the position of pensioners, as the average for calculating future pensions is set to be extended from the 24 most favourable years to the entire working lifetime – i.e., 40 years,” SDS wrote.
SDS announced that it will use all parliamentary means to oppose the “manipulations of the current government” and will advocate for the rights of current and future retirees. They also expect a serious and evidence-based discussion about the future of the pension system, rather than “deception and political manipulation.”
