By: Vida Kocjan
Slovenia is becoming an increasingly bigger haven for the mafia. Tax collection is rising, investments are dwindling, and budget spending is growing – over half of the additional expenditures go toward current expenses (salaries and social benefits). The situation in healthcare is becoming more difficult. Robert Golob is running the country with the help of – or under the influence of – left-wing activists (cyclists).
There is chaos in public finances. Janez Janša tells the government: “Deal with this!”
Three lost years
In April, it will be three years since the parliamentary elections, in which the coalition of the Freedom Movement, SD, and Levica won with significant support from left-wing NGOs (cyclists). The government was taken over by Robert Golob, a new face who promised to rule in the coming years with the help of NGOs. Before the elections, he did not make many promises, but his well-known promise to raise taxes is now being implemented. Back then, only a few believed him, but today it is a reality. However, the government has not shown any other results, especially those benefiting citizens and the economy.
They promised to strengthen the welfare state, ensure accessible healthcare for all, and assist the population and the economy. They also claimed that the focus would be on the so-called core EU countries. Now, however, they have turned toward the countries of the Middle East, and the core EU countries are no longer important.
Healthcare failure
In the coalition agreement after the spring 2022 elections, they set some priorities – the first being healthcare reform. They promised to shorten waiting lists, strengthen public healthcare, and abolish supplementary health insurance. And how is it today? Waiting lists are growing, the relevant ministry is changing regulations and rules, and the real data is becoming more and more obscured. The health minister has been replaced multiple times, and there are no systemic solutions. They did not abolish supplementary health insurance but instead made it mandatory. Slovenia is now facing the longest doctors’ strike in its history, and the reason for this is entirely on the government’s side. First, they signed some agreements with the doctors, but they did not fulfil them. The long waiting lists are also the government’s fault, not the doctors’. The government even prevents them from exercising their right to strike, which has been ongoing since January 15th, 2024. The Young Doctors of Slovenia and the European Commission have also issued a statement, warning that the situation in Slovenian healthcare is becoming unsustainable. They pointed out that instead of consulting professional bodies, the government listens to the so-called street NGOs, leaving citizens to deal with problems like a lack of personal doctors, inaccessible healthcare services, and excessively long waiting lists.
The medical organisation further warned the European Commission that, instead of listening to doctors and addressing the issues, the government has been restricting doctors’ right to strike for a year.
We are heading toward a cliff of corruption and clientelism
“Youth doctors of Slovenia are critical of the government’s actions, but our posts are drowned out by media censorship and informal pressure from some superiors connected to the current political option. Slovenia is heading towards a cliff of corruption, non-transparent government, and clientelism. With the intervention of the European mission, we may be able to stop the collapse of our country, which is just beginning in healthcare,” they wrote.
They are convinced that Slovenia cannot afford to lose healthcare workers. “Instead of worsening the situation with restrictive legislation, the government should focus on strategies to retain the workforce, addressing the concerns of doctors while aligning with the best international practices,” they stated in their letter.
They called on the European Commission and the World Health Organisation’s European office to monitor the situation in Slovenia, collaborate with Slovenian authorities, and advocate for dialogue between healthcare workers, the government, and stakeholders. They also urged them to support Slovenia in developing a sustainable strategy for healthcare employees that will ensure quality patient care while protecting the rights of healthcare workers.
The most important workforce pool: Gen-I
It is also necessary to mention staffing. The government has appointed senior management positions, as much as possible, from the so-called Golob’s Gen-I. If they are not sitting in parliament, they have been placed in leading positions in state-owned companies and institutions, for which they are endlessly grateful. Some cases, such as the Dars company, are reportedly under investigation by the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, which, under Golob’s government, has become even more of a toothless tiger than before.
Fair social policy only on paper
The coalition (Svoboda, SD, and Levica) spoke a lot about fair social policy. They promised higher pensions, the introduction of a universal child benefit, and the regulation of long-term care. Nearly three years later, none of this has materialised. They deceived pensioners by not delivering the promised 4.5% increase in pensions. They also promised to raise the minimum wage, but this depends on the growth of living costs and inflation. Under Golob’s government, inflation was exceptionally high, so a higher minimum wage is not an achievement. At the same time, it burdens service users, such as those paying for childcare, nursing homes, and rising communal service costs. In the area of long-term care, the previous, Janša government passed the appropriate law and secured financing for the first years of long-term care through European funds. This concerns older and socially vulnerable citizens. Golob’s government, however, invalidated the law, claiming they would prepare a better one. To date, nothing has come of it. The only achievement has been the establishment of a new Ministry for Solidary Future with about a hundred employees, created to employ left-wing cadres. They appointed left-wing activist Simon Maljevec, founder of the March 8th Institute, as minister. As for the universal child benefit, which should fall under the jurisdiction of Luka Mesec (Levica) or the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs, and Equal Opportunities, there has been no progress. Mesec, as minister, is lost.
Tax system reform
The coalition promised tax relief for the middle class, higher taxes for the wealthier, and lower labour tax burdens. None of these promises were fulfilled. In fact, the proposed property tax threatens to impose a heavier tax burden on the middle class, rather than the wealthy. They plan to tax other properties, particularly those worth a million euros or more, but properties in which individuals have a registered permanent address will be exempt. The tax will hit rural areas, and even the smallest buildings will be taxed.
Housing crisis
They promised 30,000 new apartments, but this number has since been reduced. Today, most of the housing being built are projects that were initiated by Janša’s government. They promised more investment in non-profit and rental housing, as well as financial incentives for young people to purchase or rent apartments. None of this has materialised. With the rise in taxes, tenants are facing even higher rent prices.
Energy, economy
They promised an accelerated energy transition and investments in renewable energy sources and the digitalisation of the economy. Instead, we all received record-high utility bills, and they are expected to rise even further in March. Part of this increase is due to the network charge, which seems to be a way to extract as much money as possible from our pockets. In the background, privatisation is taking place, benefiting a select few.
Improving the rule of law
They also promised to improve the functioning of the rule of law, with a focus on depoliticising the police, national RTV, and the judiciary, as well as reforming media legislation. The depoliticization of the police has resulted in the appointment of loyal cadres to leadership positions, similar to what is happening in investigative and prosecutorial bodies. To protect the image of Prime Minister Robert Golob, “his” people have been selected. To achieve this, they need media that are sympathetic to them, so they are now dismantling media that do not align with their views.