By: Domen Mezeg (Nova24tv.si)
“I also do not understand other ministers not resisting this austerity at the expense of flood recovery, especially when the government has 185 million euros for purely personal, pointless matters,” warns TV host Aljuš Pertinač. “Certainly, the justification for the 185 million euros allocated for the purchase of shares from small shareholders in the electricity distribution company would require a detailed explanation from the relevant minister,” says TV commentator Marko Pavlišič.
The government of Robert Golob still has not explained why it does not intend to temporarily withdraw the famous 185 million euros from the budget, which is still allocated for the purchase of shares from small shareholders in electricity distribution companies. The government has not provided reasons why ownership consolidation in the energy sector is currently so important, especially considering how difficult it is to provide funding for flood recovery. Many other areas are also severely neglected or underfunded, with healthcare being a notable example, where 79-year-olds have been waiting for heart surgery for several years.
Golob will allocate 185 million public euros to electricity friends!
It is clear that if they do not succeed in this political term, a pleasant nest is waiting for them in the privatised energy sector (here and here – in Slovene). It is worth noting that Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič warned both ministries and other budget users on Saturday in a letter that they were violating government resolutions and should take it seriously and adhere to the call for savings or give up part of their financial resources for flood recovery. The other option is to reduce their expenses for the next two years by four percent. The only ministry that heeded Boštjančič was the one for digitalisation. It seems that the government is in such disarray that neither the Prime Minister nor the Finance Minister can get the consumers of budget money “under control” (here – in Slovene).
TV3 host Aljuš Pertinač commented on the matter: “The Prime Minister should be praised for not deviating from his priorities and he makes it very clear. He is obviously only interested in the electricity sector within the scope of his responsibilities as Prime Minister.” In situations like floods (and consequently damage), which are truly unpredictable and almost unimaginable, he insists that the most important thing is for the government to allocate money to electricity companies, which are publicly owned, that is, owned by the citizens. He is not aware of why this is necessary. He also does not understand how this will affect lower energy prices. Pertinač speculates that “some friends of the Prime Minister” in the industry have their shares and need money. Therefore, Golob will take 185 million euros from the budget and give it to his friends when they sell the shares.
“Without a precise analysis, it is difficult to judge whether this is a reasonable decision”
It is “incredible” that the Prime Minister insists on this, and even less likely that the Finance Minister publicly lies at press conferences when he says that this is not his concern, but of SDH’s (budget documents still contain this). He also does not understand the coalition partners for not demanding the withdrawal of the controversial matter. Pertinač: “Probably they do not have friends in the energy sector who will profit from this.” However, they seem to be so strongly under the influence of being part of the coalition with Golob and the Gibanje Svoboda party that they are incapable of doing so. Nor does he understand other ministers for not opposing savings at the expense of flood recovery when the government has 185 million euros for “purely private, worthless” moves. Pertinač: “It seems that we will have to join those who periodically demand either higher pensions or rights on the street, because it seems that with some classic means that we were used to until now, with some democratic pressure through journalism, questions, etc., this will no longer work.” According to him, this government has its own agenda that it is implementing regardless of everything else.
Political analyst Marko Pavlišič on TV3 also commented: “Certainly, the justification for the 185 million euros allocated for the purchase of shares of small shareholders in the electricity distribution network should require a detailed explanation from the relevant minister, especially in light of the announcements of new taxes or contributions and the announced tightened fiscal situation, both in terms of the necessary reconstruction after natural disasters and the re-establishment of fiscal rules at the request of the EU.” Without a precise analysis, it is difficult to judge whether this is a reasonable decision. In addition to the amount itself, the proper determination of the price of the shares to be repurchased and its transparency is also important. Since it involves the repurchase of shares, it is necessary to consider whether it is not possible to provide these funds in budget item B.