By: Nova24tv.si
These days, efforts are being made to portray the activities of the governing SDS party in the most scandalous way possible, even though it is nothing unusual for party members to have a shared chat in which they distribute and discuss their party’s posts. To make the story appear more dramatic, references are being made to members of “closed online groups,” even though SDS’s official Viber channel is open to anyone who wishes to join.
Labels such as “factory of hatred,” “propaganda unit,” and “organised army of commentators” began appearing in public discussion after Mladina published an article about the alleged “propaganda machine” or “basement” of the largest governing party and its members. The article was based on screenshots reportedly obtained from an anonymous source, showing conversations in groups on two different applications where party-related content was being shared. The story was subsequently picked up by mainstream media outlets, which is generally sympathetic to the political left.
“Mladina identified among the members of these closed online groups intended for distributing SDS content several names from the Primorska region. Among them are Elena Zavadlav Ušaj, former SDS MP and current leader of the Democrats’ parliamentary group, political figures from Koper, and party representatives from other parts of the region,” reported Primorske novice, among other outlets. SDS MP Jana Gržinič objected to this reporting, arguing that it is inaccurate to describe the group as closed. “What misleading reporting by Primorske novice and the other media outlets,” she stated.
The MP reminded readers of a 2022 announcement
“They say the group is closed. It absolutely is not. The group is publicly open to anyone who wants to join. Anyone can join. And that has been the case since 2022. Nobody is hiding anything,” the coalition MP wrote on X, adding that she finds it interesting that the group has only now been discovered. To support her claim, she shared a screenshot of an SDS post published on Facebook. The post shows that in February 2022, SDS publicly invited people to join its official Viber channel. “Join the official SDS Viber channel. Through this channel, you will receive important and authentic information directly from the source. Everyone interested in the truth is welcome. At SDS, we are building Slovenia together with you. Together we can achieve more!” the party stated in the post, attaching a link to its official Viber channel.
“Credit to investigative journalist Borut Mekina for managing to infiltrate this secret group”; “So this means it is open to anyone who is interested. What is so ‘investigative’ about that?”; “I have to join this group. Definitely.” These were some of the comments that appeared after SDS MP used a concrete example to argue that the reporting was misleading.
A completely normal practice
Regarding the media coverage in question, former prominent SDS member Jure Colja also commented on X, describing it as ridiculous. He began by stating that those who have followed the political and media landscape longer than most people, or who have themselves been politically active, understand the purpose of such stories. “Media spin existed, exists, and always will. Regardless of my recent withdrawal and departure, I can calmly say, and repeat every time, that what I am reading is downright ridiculous. Why? Because these were shared messages, groups if you like, where already published content or posts were distributed so that we could more effectively inform people about our work, our proposals, and everything that citizens ought to know,” he explained, adding that there was nothing unusual or problematic about it. Anyone who had actually asked would have received the same explanation. “If they had. That is what happens when one side does not have the same loudspeakers as another. It is interesting, however, that when false profiles and trolls on the left were allegedly financed through GEN-I and were actively insulting and threatening people on social media, we did not see this kind of ‘news’ or days of media uproar,” he continued, adding that perhaps those who should have been reporting on such matters were busy whistling at some public ceremony. As far as his personal values and assessment of the facts are concerned, Colja said that he remains firmly where he has always been and continues to express his views openly regardless of recent developments.
It is more than obvious that an attempt is being made to manufacture a scandal where none exists. There is a strong desire to damage the reputation of the governing party: if an opportunity presents itself, it is used, and if it does not, one is created. This relies on the double standards that have become familiar in Slovenia.
