By: Sara Kovač / Nova24tv
The Slovenian Democratic Party continues with regional meetings. On September 11th, members and sympathisers of the party gathered in Logatec, and then in Šmartno pri Litiji. They gathered in good numbers at both locations. The main speaker at both meetings was the Prime Minister Janez Janša. This time he touched upon several topics, from the identity of the Slovenian Democratic Party, the unconstitutional programme of one of the parties in parliament, government investments, and international events.
The event started with a toast, followed by Zoran Mojškrc, president of the local committee in Logatec, and Rado Gladek, president of the Ljubljana Regional Coordination. Both later introduced themselves as candidates for parliament. Zoran Mojškrc thanked all the guests for their presence and all those who helped with the organisation. Rado Gladek expressed his joy that the members gathered in large numbers and the Logatec Committee for the organisation and all for participation. At the same time, he reminded the gathered that a super-election year is ahead of us, in which the Olympic motto will not be valid – it is important to participate.
This was followed by a speech by the Vice President of the Slovenian Democratic Youth, Andrej Hoivik. “Very welcome on behalf of the largest and most heartfelt youth in the country,” Hoivik began, then went on to describe all the successes the current government has made. At the same time, he did not forget what the government had done for young people, including reducing the costs of public transport. Hoivik also reminded us that a super-election year is ahead of us. As at the previous meeting in Upper Carniola region, he called on those gathered to bring three young people each time.
The need for vaccination
The next to take the stage was Romana Tomc, an MEP. The Member of Parliament first addressed the need for vaccination, which has already been adopted abroad. In her conversations with foreign statesmen, she noted that there are two basic differences between Slovenia and other countries in Europe. This is that Slovenia is above average in terms of economic indicators and that it is coping extremely well with the epidemic, but on the other hand it is poorly vaccinated. She stated the following reason: “The leaders of Friday’s cyclists visited us in front of the European Parliament. How did they behave there because they have a lot of courage at home? There were 4 or 5 of them, they all wore masks, they had banners in their hands and they were completely invisible. In Slovenia, however, they have a lot of media attention and that is one of the reasons for the difference in vaccination coverage.” The MP also said that the upcoming election campaigns will be difficult but successful. She concluded by congratulating the Prime Minister, Janez Janša, who recently received the Personality Award 2020 for Central and Eastern Europe. The congratulations received a big round of applause. This was followed by a musical performance by Alenka Gotar. She sang the song Med iskrenimi ljudmi (Eng. Among Honest People). The music programme was followed by a presentation of registered candidates for MPs.
Janez Janša on the identity of the SDS
The focal point of the programme followed. Janez Janša took the stage and first spoke about the identity of the Slovenian Democratic Party. This is primarily Slovene, democratic and party – all three identities were undesirable in the former totalitarian regime – and that the basis of the SDS programme is the Slovene constitution. “Everything in the constitution is our programme,” he said. The Prime Minister continued that not everyone in the parliament shares these values, as some of them have written in the programme that they will dismantle representative democracy. “Imagine any of us mentioning that he is committed to dismantling representative democracy. That would be the main news in the media.”
The Prime Minister then went on to say that one party was also in favour of Slovenia’s withdrawal from NATO, opposing all expenditures for the Slovenian Army and supporting Slovenia’s withdrawal from the euro area. “We have party MPs who say entrepreneurs need to be pushed into the sea, who say apartments and houses need to be nationalised. The media cover it up a bit if it is too harsh, but otherwise they support it.” He also recalled that the party-related protest movement had self-proclaimed itself as representatives of the people, despite the fact that no one had elected these protesters.
We are planning investments that have not been seen for 20 years; nevertheless, Slovenian politicians oppose it
He then went on about the government’s planned investments. “We took measures that cared for all generations. For the youngest, in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, universities. All of these are not just wishes, but today they are plans with real sources of funding. The same goes for the middle and older generation. We are planning investments that have not been seen for 20 years.” Janša then spoke about the fact that these projects will be co-financed with the help of European funds and reminded those gathered that these funds are not funds from some European bureaucrats, but funds from taxpayers. The Prime Minister then warned: “All these billions will not go to schools, kindergartens, gyms, nursing hospitals, road projects, if these funds are decided by those who gave hundreds of millions for various studies, NGOs from Metelkova 6.” Despite record investments and secured funds, there were politicians in Slovenia who opposed the negotiated European funds, or they wanted to condition the means to their own country. “If it were in another country, such a politician would not survive two days.”
He ended his speech with what was happening on the international stage. He spoke of Afghanistan, where the migrant crisis is threatening to recur due to the country’s internal instability. He reiterated that there will be no migrant corridors, despite the wishes of some European politicians, and continued that it was our government that coordinated this position among the leaders of the European Union. “Congratulations again to Minister Hojs, this was one of the greatest successes of our presidency.” In conclusion, he spoke about the perspective of the enlargement of the European Union to the Western Balkans. He called for this enlargement and regretted that no agreement had yet been reached in the EU.