By: Metod Berlec
We talked about current events and youth issues with the new president of the Slovenian Democratic Youth, Dominik Štrakl, who is also an assistant to MEP Milan Zver.
DEMOKRACIJA: Dominik, in January you were elected president of the Slovenian Democratic Youth. You are from Prlekija, where some of the great names of the Slovene nation come from; from Franc Miklošič, Franc Ksaver Meško, dr. Anton Korošec, dr. Anton Trstenjak and all the way to dr. Ivan Štuhec in the present day, not to mention further. How did Prlekija mark your childhood years?
ŠTRAKL: First of all, thank you very much for the invitation and the opportunity. For me, Prlekija is the most beautiful region in Slovenia. Unspoiled nature, tidy and clean environment, rich cultural heritage. Lots of space for recreation, delicious food, and good neighbours. I come from a small village of Bunčani, where we villagers are very connected to each other. We always knew how to stand together when needed and help each other. It was nice to grow up in such an environment and such an environment definitely marked me in a good way. That is why I always like to say with pride that I am from Prlekija.
DEMOKRACIJA: What values did you grow up with?
ŠTRAKL: I come from a religious family. My upbringing was in line with Christian values. My parents instilled values that shaped me into the person I am today very early on. They let me know that honesty and truth are the foundation of life. Stand by your beliefs no matter what and always do what you think is right. This is my life guide.
DEMOKRACIJA: How did you get excited about politics? And when?
ŠTRAKL: From a very early age, I became interested in social issues. I wondered what the place and role of an individual is in the community, in society, in the country. What is more important, the individual or society? I began to read political theories, social arrangements, and biographies of important personalities of our history. I realised that only a responsible and active individual can help shape a better future. Somehow I felt this responsibility to give back something to the society that shaped me into what I am and still helps me develop my potential. After some deliberation, I decided to join the Slovenian Democratic Party.
DEMOKRACIJA: If I am not mistaken, despite your youth, you have been a member of the Slovene Democratic Party for a long time, and thus also of the Slovene Democratic Youth?
ŠTRAKL: Correct. I joined the SDS party in December 2010. And my active work in the youth group began a few months later, when I set up a local SDM committee in Veržej with like-minded people.
DEMOKRACIJA: Why did you join the SDS?
ŠTRAKL: I think this question is easy to answer. The SDS party represents political normalcy. That political normalcy that is urgently needed in the Slovenian political space. It has traditional values written in its programme, and puts our identity, culture, and language at the forefront. It is convinced that the family is the basic cell of society. It seeks to build a modern Western democracy. It is aware that the Slovenian state represents an important value and that the development of democracy must be constantly strived for. I also wanted to participate and contribute my part.
DEMOKRACIJA: How do you see the position of young people in Slovenian society?
ŠTRAKL: I think that young people in our country live well today. We have countless more chances and opportunities to develop our talents and potentials than our parents had. The question is whether we are aware of this. What bothers me the most is the apathy of young people in the area of political participation. Young people should deal with topics that concern us. The biggest problems of young people are certainly housing, social security, and employment. All of these and more are topics that are important for our future. More youth activities will be needed if we want to solve this problem, which hinders the development of our potentials. I think we should be aware of that and be bold in doing so.
DEMOKRACIJA: What will you strive for as the president of the Slovenian Democratic Youth?
ŠTRAKL: In my address to the Congress, I said it was time for the younger generations to take their share of responsibility. The future we envision will not exist if we do not actively strive for it and help co-create it. We are the offspring of a political party. Our mission is to represent the interests of young people and try to bring politics closer to young people. To enable young people to be heard and taken into account. At SDM, we want to give everyone the opportunity to actively co-create our common future. Our thread of action under my leadership will be, above all, cooperation. I think that young people can be the ones who can prove that, despite different views, we are able to cooperate and seek common ground.
DEMOKRACIJA: What do you want to achieve with your work in politics?
ŠTRAKL: Why would young people let only the elderly decide our future? Through my work, I want to achieve that young people participate in decision-making. Above all, I want to communicate to the youth through my work in politics that something needs to be returned to society and not just be taken away from it. Political engagement is one way to do this.
DEMOKRACIJA: Many young people view politics quite negatively, saying that politics is only about their own interests. What do you answer them?
ŠTRAKL: I think it is quite simple. As in all areas, politicians and political parties are not all the same. I think it is more than obvious which are those parties that, in accordance with their programmes and policies, are really striving for a better future, and which are the ones only concerned with power and their personal benefits. That is why I usually answer them by asking why we would leave the decision-making about our future to such politicians. If we all think like that and leave our place in politics to such people, then people like that will really be the only ones left in politics.
DEMOKRACIJA: Well, if we also touch on current political events in Slovenia. How do you view the current left wing extremist opposition, which is trying in every possible way to overthrow the government? And this during the epidemic of the new coronavirus…
ŠTRAKL: Destructive and violent. I think these are words that can very clearly describe the workings of the left opposition. There is no country in Europe that has an opposition that calls on its citizens to disregard measures, campaigns against the wearing of masks – even in schools, calls for protests during the greatest crisis and participates in them itself. There is no such opposition in other countries that would so brutally exploit the crisis to confront a political opponent and return to power. Ever since the onset of this crisis, they have been concerned only with how to come to power again – after their incompetence and throwing in the towel. In doing so, they do not choose the means. They do so even at the expense of public health and lives. This is the lowest level that such a policy can reach. Even more! After unsuccessful attempts with the KUL project and Karl Erjavec, the increasingly radicalised opposition began to send lies abroad about Slovenia’s problems with media freedom and the rule of law. And the truth is just the opposite. Slovenia has no problems with media freedom, but it has problems with media pluralism. Slovenes have been grossly violated of the right to objective reporting and thus of the right to freely form their political and electoral will. This, however, is a key condition for a free democratic society. Perhaps I should end this question with a sentence: if a country has such an opposition, it does not need an external enemy.
DEMOKRACIJA: On the other hand, how do you assess the functioning of the current government led by Janez Janša?
ŠTRAKL: In March last year, the government of Janez Janša took on a great responsibility for running the country. It was – and still is – a unique time that can only be compared to the time of independence. Forming a government on the brink of an epidemic is state-forming act. The government has put the health and lives of citizens and helping the economy as priority. It immediately began taking steps to curb the spread of the virus and mitigate the effects of the economic crisis. It has already adopted eight anti-corona packages, which have directly helped people and the economy to maintain jobs, and the ninth legislative package is already being prepared. It has successfully negotiated a historic €10.5 billion in European funds from the Recovery and Resilience Fund. Through its decisive and active work in the field of foreign policy, it has restored Slovenia’s reputation and place in the EU and the world. Decentralisation and de-bureaucratisation of the state began. Finally, the situation in health care and social welfare institutions began to be regulated. It has accelerated the implementation of some key infrastructure projects that have stood still for many years. It is successfully preparing for the presidency of the EU Council, to name a few. The government is successful and is persistently fulfilling its obligations under the coalition agreement. But this mandate will not be enough to solve some of the key problems that have accumulated during the rule of left wing governments. It will be necessary to insist on the outlined path and I believe that the voters will upgrade this in the next elections.
DEMOKRACIJA: Another question for the end. You are also an assistant to MEP Milan Zver. How do you see the future of Slovenia within the European Union? What kind of EU do you want in the future?
ŠTRAKL: I believe that the EU is one of the greatest achievements in the history of the European continent, based on peace, security, freedom, democracy and solidarity. Different identities, cultural and linguistic diversity – all this enriches the European Union and makes it something special. I want an EU that is aware of its roots. An EU that is ready to defend European culture and way of life, if necessary. I want an EU that puts the safety of its citizens first and respects the cultural diversity of the Member States. Such an EU has a future, otherwise I am afraid it does not.
Biography
Dominik Štrakl was born in 1991 in Murska Sobota. He graduated in 2010 from the Secondary Professions and Technical School in Murska Sobota, and received a degree in 2018 from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Informatics in Maribor. This time he is enrolled in the master’s programme in International and Diplomatic Studies at the Faculty of State and European Studies in Kranj. Since 2014, he has been a member of the Veržej Municipal Council. Between 2014 and 2020, he was a member of the council of the Ljutomer Public Health Institute, and since 2018 he has also chaired the council of the institute. He is employed as an assistant to MEP Milan Zver and, since January this year, the president of the Slovenian Democratic Youth.
I realised that only a responsible and active individual can help shape a better future.
At SDM, we want to give everyone the opportunity to actively co-create our common future. Our thread of action under my leadership will be, above all, cooperation.