By: Dr. Janez Remškar
We are in a pandemic that is going on here and in many parts of the world. No one could even imagine such a thing. In Slovenia, and many other parts of the world, we were unprepared in all respects for covid-19. Let’s remember. The highest representatives of the profession gave instructions to those returning from abroad last February, which turned out to be incorrect. Hospitals were unprepared for the influx of a larger number of patients with lung impairment. We did not have face masks for protection, nor did we have any demanding medical technical equipment. The CZ national plan was not adapted to such a situation.
These are not accusations; it is just a finding in what situation the new government found itself. Restrictive measures have been opposed by many people, not only in our country, but also in the world. That is the price of democracies. Unfortunately, the opposition in our country has exceeded all measures of common sense. Why? Because of the account of opposition politicians who took advantage of the mood and discomfort of the people at the restrictions. All major media outlets were heavily involved.
Thus, we could hear on RTV SLO that the virus was invented by Janša; that the masks, the required distance between people and quarantine do not work. At the same time, they forgot to say that some people, a handful are enough, do not stick to it. There has been and continues to be talk of inappropriate communication between government officials and the public. Stupidity.
Left wing gossiping is life-threatening
Does anyone really believe that it would be different with the requests of the profession for all to follow the instructions. And this in addition to our otherwise indiscipline, if I think only of non-compliance with traffic rules, speed limits or unreasonable behaviour of young smokers who, despite the known consequences and shorter life of smokers, indulge in this habit. Let’s sober up and take a realistic look at our qualities. There is talk of civil rights violations, repression and similar nonsense. Dear Slovenes, please follow, whoever can, the measures in other countries to see that all this gossiping is not true. They are dangerous and life-threatening. It is true, however, that you also find protesters, extremists, in these countries. And it is also true that many artisans are now in existential trouble, but are not among the protesters. As a doctor, I am outraged by the conduct of opposition politicians, who discount, oppose without proposing measures to help curb the epidemic. Merely opposing measures such as wearing masks, closing schools, restrictions on movement, etc., does not solve anything. They should propose “their own measures” to curb the spread of the virus, which, of course, they do not have. It is true that we were successful in the first wave, but it is also true that with some ambiguities in the government’s actions, the opposition felt its opportunity and tried to take advantage of the discomfort and problems with the people. An avalanche of accusations, oppositions and discredits broke out, leading to greater disregard for action and more infection than would be necessary.
Otherwise, we will see what will happen to us now that dr. Mario Fafangel even apologised for the government taking the proposed measures of the profession. The intolerance of this government, which is struggling with the epidemic, continues. The essence of intolerance and opposition is that the current government is finally trying to balance justice and the media after 30 years. I am outraged by the headlines like the last ones in Nedela newspaper on 27.3.2021. On the cover: Dr. Dragan Petrovec: In the background of the curfew there is only a great desire for repression… and next to the article on page 6: The moves of this government are psychopathic in accordance with the personality of the leader. Mr. lawyer, a graduate of our law school, a student of Ljubo Bavcon, where law within the former state had nothing to do with Anglo-Saxon law and was a politically repressive body, who allowed himself too much. He may indeed be among the leading penologists, as it says on Wikipedia, (unfortunately without the obligatory quotations in support of this claim to be believed), which of course does not mean that he is the one who can irresponsibly entangle extreme claims and descriptions, which are hate speech.
I conclude with a public accusation by opposition politicians, the media and some “experts” of the situation in the country during the second wave of the epidemic. Time and analysis will confirm the justification of my accusation. It will be interesting to follow what is happening in our country and in the world during the third wave.
Janez Remškar is a former doctor, mayor, director of the Jesenice General Hospital, president of the council of the University Medical Center Ljubljana and director general of the Oncology Institute (OI) Ljubljana.
