By: C. R.
Nearly ten thousand members and supporters of the SDS party gathered yesterday in Bovec for the traditional 30th meeting of SDS committees. The attendees were addressed by SDS President Janez Janša.
In the following, we publish his speech (spoken word applies).
When we gathered for the first time at the summer camp 30 years ago, we were at Camp Klin and there were only 15 of us. Just a few years later, that place was too small, so we moved to the other side of the Lepenica river. Two years later, even that spot was too small, and now we gather here, at the airfield. Today, there was no more room even for all the buses, almost 100 of them.
Never before have there been as many of us as there are today – thank you to everyone who travelled from across Slovenia, from the Mura, the Adriatic, the Kolpa… Here in this valley beneath Triglav today gathers not only the hope for a better Slovenia, but the promise of a better Slovenia.
That promise exists because those of us gathered here love and cherish Slovenia, and we are ready to work to the very end for its good. So once again – thank you all.
Since we gathered here last year, we have unfortunately said goodbye to two people who were with us from the very beginning, and who helped organise the first SDS and Mountaineering Club camps. The honorary president of the mountaineers, Dr Anton Jeglič, passed away a few months ago, leaving a great void. This year’s camp is dedicated to his memory. We also recently lost Jože Zorč, whose family is hosting us this year. Jože helped us in the early days when we pitched our first tents. He always gave us space, even when a sign at the entrance said the camp was full. This camp is dedicated to his memory as well.
We are living in a time when much is at stake. A time of deciding what the future of our beautiful homeland will be. When I look across the crowd today, I would say there is no need to worry. Every year there are more of us, more and more young people. But that does not mean we do not still have a lot of work to do.
And we have already done quite a bit. A lot has happened since last year to contribute to the growth of our party. Over 2,000 new members have joined us in that time, more than most other parties even have.
Thanks to all of you who brought friends and colleagues who joined even today – there are many of them. We are grateful for every new strength! Each member is our foundation, our capital, on which we build everything. The more of us there are, the closer that promise of a better Slovenia becomes. And that time is drawing near.
Here, we are people who love Slovenia, full of joy for life. Anyone who loves their homeland must remain joyful, even when facing daily struggles and when much of what happens around us brings little joy.
Earlier, when we watched the tug-of-war, it was a tense fight until the end, and there was so much laughter. I laughed so hard, my muscles hurt.
We laughed more than they do in the Slovenian parliament, although many things there are not just sad, but also tragically comical. One of the latest examples is the saga around defence spending. The coalition agreed that one party would support the increase, two would oppose it. The Prime Minister went to The Hague and signed for a 5% increase. Then he came home and said that it did not count. Then they all competed: who would propose a referendum, who would withdraw it, who would suggest a new one. When we ruined their game, they said the opposition was to blame.
They spent so much time fighting with common sense that they eventually defeated it. Yesterday, a pro-government portal reported: “Robert Golob’s big victory – no referendum!” Even though they proposed it, they argued about it, and when they voted it down, they called it a victory. If Fran Milčinski were still alive, he would probably write a sequel to The Butalci (The Idiots).
Meanwhile, Slovenia is missing out on opportunities.
Back in 2008, when we gathered here, there was a lot of optimism. Slovenia was ahead of all the new EU member states. Everyone looked up to us – by GDP, prosperity… we looked like we would surpass the EU average. But then came the era of new faces and crisis politics. Those who once looked up to us are now ahead of us.
Look at Kanin – the cable car is not running, even though it is Slovenia’s only high-mountain ski resort, because the money our government earmarked for reconstruction never reached the right place. It was redirected to minor projects. Many projects were cancelled, and the funds used for various studies. They are not even using EU funds – Slovenia is second-to-last in terms of EU fund absorption. The rusted facilities at Kanin, unused in summer or winter, are a symbolic example of wasted opportunities caused by an incompetent government.
In terms of regional development, national prosperity, and the economy, we have not seen a single law in the past three years that would improve competitiveness, raise salaries, increase pensions, or reduce regional disparities. All we have seen are proposals for higher taxes and levies. Our law that would have given every citizen an additional net salary was halved, even though it would not have hurt the budget. Instead, we have had laws focused on ideology, on legalising marijuana, euthanasia… all of it destructive to a healthy society. We have tried to stop much of this harmful legislation, but we cannot stop it all.
So, a lot of work lies ahead. Let me mention an important victory – the referendum win. Thank you to everyone who fought until the last vote was counted. We defended the honour and foundations of Slovenian culture.
That referendum also showed that there are many of us. That we are not some side alley or fringe current, but the mainstream.
Our MEPs have also done great work in the past year. Milan Zver won a case against the European Commission over the interference of former Commissioner Jourová in the Constitutional Court of Slovenia. Romana Tomc led an initiative for a resolution of vital importance for Slovenia’s future. The European Parliament now demands a dignified burial for all the dead in Slovenia.
If you meet someone who claims that the left in Slovenia defends European values, tell them how that same left acted in the European Parliament. The media is still full of attempts to defend the indefensible.
For a true democrat, all totalitarian regimes are bad, no matter their label. All crimes must be condemned. The same standards must apply to all. This resolution is a great encouragement for those of us who have been insisting on this for decades. Thanks to our Brussels team who made it happen.
We have had a number of joyful events today, and more good times lie ahead. But so do six months of hard work – enjoy yourselves today, but once summer ends, the campaign begins. We do not know the election date. If things had gone differently, we would already be heading to autumn elections, because the coalition would not be able to keep playing their game. If there had been a debate on defence spending, things would have come to light and the coalition would have collapsed.
Three MPs – two of them formerly ours – made sure it turned out differently. Elections will be held by March next year at the latest. In September, the serious work begins. We know where we are going and how to get there. At our congress, we adopted a programme for a constitutional majority of reason.
Reason is what Slovenia needs. People ask us how we will achieve it. It is simple – in coalition with voters. Do not listen to those who say it is impossible. We are building a coalition with voters, excluding no one. The referendum showed that reason is growing in Slovenia. Many who voted emotionally three years ago have now changed their minds.
The opportunities are there – we must seize them. Much that was broken must be repaired. What was destroyed must be rebuilt. We will build Slovenia. We will not tear down what was done well – though there was not much of it.
But there is a lot to fix, and the list of laws that need to be changed, amended, or repealed in the first month after elections is long.
Let’s say it without false modesty: SDS is the only serious party in this country. We are not an instant party, we have more than 10% support, and we have a team ready to start working on day one. We do not go searching for ministers with a flashlight after elections.
We do not go into the kitchen to see if there is a good interior minister there. We look for capable people, and the only criterion we set before appointing them is that they love Slovenia and will work for the good of Slovenia.
Thank you once again for coming from all over to this valley, one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful Alpine valley in the world. Thank you to all who keep this tradition alive. Thank you to those who brought your sons or grandchildren – for they are the foundation of our future.
Source: sds.si
