By: Mitja Grmovšek
Leon Merjasec is a man who always comes to the rescue. He is an active firefighter, hunter, beekeeper, and family father. In his free time, he likes to be in the woods, in nature, and he also goes to the mountains with his family. His great inspiration was the late Dr Jože Pučnik.
DEMOKRACIJA: Mr. Merjasec, what bothers you the most as an MP in the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia and what inspires you?
Merjasec: Like other MPs, I am probably disturbed by the often uncultured behaviour of some opposition MPs, who insult us, the coalition MPs, with inappropriate remarks. The National Assembly is a temple of democracy, in which mutual respect must be an important value. With our behaviour, MPs first show our attitude towards the function entrusted to us and our fellow citizens. Politics in general lacks a proper dialogue with reasoned views, even if they differ. Expressing different views and criticism are always welcome, but they should be at such a level that they do not affect dissidents or MPs in general.
I am certainly convinced, and this also inspires me, that, through our work, MPs can contribute to better working conditions, prosperity, and life in general. Our citizens deserve it.
DEMOKRACIJA: Many people know you as a diligent carpenter. Why did you decide on politics? Why the SDS party?
Merjasec: I started my career as a carpenter and worked for about 20 years as a self-employed entrepreneur. I entered politics in 2008, after the parliamentary elections, when the SDS party lost the elections. I was disappointed with the election results, because in my opinion, the politics of the time led by Janez Janša worked great. I wanted to contribute even better results in the upcoming elections with my work. Why the SDS is an interesting question. As some of you know, in the last period of his life Dr Jože Pučnik lived in our place, I can say an idyllic place by Lake Zbilje. He had an older house in need of renovation. As a carpenter, I was able to offer him these services and so we met. I remember some morning snacks stretching into long hours of conversation. They were very instructive and drew me to think. At that time, I was not yet seriously considering joining the party, but I was encouraged to do so by the subsequent positive actions of the then government, and, as has been said, the loss of the elections at the time. I can say that I am grateful to Dr Jože Pučnik, that today I am a member of the Slovenian Democratic Party!
DEMOKRACIJA: You also act as a municipal councillor. What is the difference between local and state policy?
Merjasec: In the municipality of Medvode, I can say that the councillors, except for some individuals, work for the good of the entire municipality. We work according to priorities, projects that all councillors of different parties and lists strive for, because we know very well that they are needed. In this way, we can create better conditions for all our citizens, which is well known in the municipality. We have excellent cooperation and coordination with the mayor, not only during the municipal sessions, even though he was my opponent in the last mayoral election. If such cooperation were possible at the national level, Slovenia could achieve even better development than it does otherwise. I am proud of my municipality, and I think it is right that politics does not have as strong an impact as it does at the state level. Just like the municipality, I am proud of the individuals who contribute to a better life through their voluntary work.
DEMOKRACIJA: You also have an interesting hobby, so to speak, beekeeping. How much work is needed to produce honey?
Merjasec: I have quite a few “hobbies” as I am also a volunteer firefighter and hunter. As a beekeeper, I practically started from scratch. Sometime in 2006 or 2007 (I do not remember anymore), an interest in beekeeping awoke in me, but I know that I noticed a lack of pollinators in my home orchard that year. I started reading literature, joined the society and had an excellent beekeeping mentor. He impressed me so much that I later took the exam for a master beekeeper. You must invest a lot of time, knowledge and, above all, a strong will in beekeeping. As a carpenter, I made everything myself, from the beehive to the hives. Unfortunately, bees are quite exposed to health problems, such as varroa, which is a parasitic mite that beekeepers must constantly destroy. Beekeeping is more than just honey production and earnings that are minimal. However, it is one of the most important branches for survival, as we use bees to help us pollinate our plants and fruits.
DEMOKRACIJA: As busy as a bee, they say! Are you like that too?
Merjasec: This question should be answered by others, but I can say for myself that I am doing what I see needs to be done. All in all, I think one word is important – HELP. I help those who need my help. I do what is expected of me. I was taught this by my parents, whom I value and respect. And that is exactly how our service should be. Help those in need and have a respectful attitude towards everyone.
DEMOKRACIJA: What else do you do in your free time?
Merjasec: As I have already said, I have been a volunteer firefighter since I was a child, and as time allows, I am still active in the fire department today. Right now, we are preparing for the construction of a new fire station, which will require even more free time. I love the forest, nature, so I am also a hunter and master in a hunting family. This also takes up a lot of my free time (do not ask my wife 😊). I also take time for sports, basketball, which is my favourite sport, and in addition to sports activities and knowledge, it also requires teamwork. I learned from the firefighters that a team is important, because if it is a good team that you can rely on, it counts the most in sports, volunteering, and politics. On top of all that, I love visiting our beautiful mountains with family and friends. The support of family and friends is invaluable, because only in this way can you achieve the set goals. And we will need such support, especially this year.
DEMOKRACIJA: You are a member of the SDS party in the National Assembly. Did you ever think in your youth that you would become an MP?
Merjasec: Not at all. If someone had asked me in my youth if I would be an MP, I would have asked him if he was sane. But when you grow up, you see that everything is politics. Politics is in every pore of our lives. It concerns all of us, so I joined a party close to me. However, in my early youth, I liked to tease my late father that I will become a militiaman. This upset him and he said I would have to leave the house then. Well, I stayed right at home.
DEMOKRACIJA: What is the responsibility of an MP to the people, your compatriots in Pirniče, and citizens in general?
Merjasec: I do not know whether the responsibility towards the people, the compatriots of Pirniče, and the citizens in general can be measured. I work in the best faith that everyone, or at least the most, will have the best living conditions. I try to listen to them every day, answer their questions and help them if I can. A Member of Parliament is elected by the people, so he must also work for the people and be among the people. I am a man who has lived and will live in Pirniče, Slovenia, and I do not have the face to not work for their good. I have a feeling that people recognise my sincerity and respect my work. And that means a lot to me.
DEMOKRACIJA: What values do you strive for?
Merjasec: At the present time, I have a feeling that we have forgotten a little bit about the values of our parents and grandparents. I have in mind the values that characterise us as people, that is, respect for each other, even those who think differently. I think we need different-minded people to be able to progress as a society. I respect everyone, but it is true that my views may be different from the views of others, but because of this I am not a “fascist”, an animal torturer or something else, as some accuse me of. A political definition different from the one set by the left opposition is not fascism! We live in a crowd past each other, even though the neighbour may be having problems and we could help him.
DEMOKRACIJA: What will be your lead in the upcoming elections?
Merjasec: In the 2018 parliamentary elections, I borrowed the thought of our great patriot, born in our region, in Zavrh pod Šmarno goro, priest Jakob Aljaž: “It is not about me, it is about all of us Slovenes.” And this is how I am acting today, and I will continue to do so in the next term, if the voters trust me with their vote. I believe that elections are being held throughout the term and that is how the goal is achieved. I am driven by the belief that despite diversity, we can move things for the better. That is why my guide in the upcoming elections will be: Different, but together in a common future.
Biography
Leon Merjasec’s life began in Ljubljana, where he was born on February 25th, 1969. He has lived all his life in the municipality of Medvode, he spent his childhood in Zgornje Pirniče, and now he lives in Spodnje Pirniče with his wife and two sons. After graduating from the vocational woodworking school in Škofja Loka, he first began to gain experience in the company Jelovica Škofja Loka, but soon decided on an independent entrepreneurial path and opened his own carpentry workshop. Due to health problems, he stopped working as a carpenter and got a job in a company, where he oversaw consulting in the field of forestry. Leon Merjasec is permanently committed to the tradition of the Slovenian spring. At first, he was only a sympathiser, but since 2008 he has been a very active member of the Slovenian Democratic Party. He headed the party’s municipal committee in Medvode, which, based on his work, proposed him as a candidate in the parliamentary elections.