Foreign media coverage of the controversial European Commissioner-designate from Slovenia, Marta Kos, continues unabated. In an article entitled “When Gender-Quotas Backfire” (available here: https://europeunfiltered.com/gender-quota-european-commission-von-der-leyen-marta-kos/), the authors revealed that Ursula von der Leyen’s demands to have a female candidate fill the Slovenian Commissioner’s post could cause inconvenience. The media outlet Europe Unfiltered cites the well-known sins of Marta Kos, but in particular highlights the media empire of the Kos family (24 ur, POP TV), which may be the reason why she was the Prime Minister’s choice. The media also states that Minister Tanja Fajon is better qualified for the post of Commissioner.
The article then starts by focusing on the “gender balance” of the new European Commission, which was a key driver for the new composition. Apparently, this was a matter that the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, considered so important that she put strong pressure on individual Member States with the idea of selecting female candidates for the Commissioner’s posts.
Some of them ignored von der Leyen’s request (Malta), while others complied (Romania, Slovenia). The Slovenian government’s concession to the European Commission provoked a political storm. Many accused Prime Minister Robert Golob of being “weak”, while others criticised Brussels for expecting smaller countries to be obedient and for imposing its interests on them.
The Kos family media empire at the disposal of Golob
The choice of Kos for the position of European Commissioner seems to benefit both von der Leyen and Golob. On the one hand, the Commission will be more gender-balanced, and if she leaves Slovenia for the post of Commissioner, her affairs will leave with her, at least for five years. As an added bonus, the Prime Minister could get the Kos family’s media empire in return (24 ur, POP TV). The media also states that Golob’s ex-wife, Janja Golob Nemec, has business links with the Kos family through her own energy company, Star Solar.
The media outlet also points out that Kos herself has declared around one million euros in savings. It is also not surprising that individual members of the Kos family repeatedly appear among the candidates on the Freedom Movement party (Gibanje Svoboda) lists. Moreover, time and again, they are given positions, even though they have either proved incompetent or have even left the Freedom Movement party, which is precisely what Kos has done on several occasions (she also turned down Golob’s offer to head the Freedom Movement list in the European elections).
The media mentions that she left Slovenia some time ago and went to live with her husband in Switzerland (she lives in Geneva with her husband Henri Gétaz, Secretary-General of the European Free Trade Association – EFTA), from where she runs her own company, KOS Consulting and Coaching. She has also done a few side gigs, such as working for the Swedish company Kreabs or running workshops/training for employees in her home country for exorbitant fees.
Fajon would have been a better choice than Kos
In getting these side gigs, Kos apparently used her family connections to secure lucrative deals. The media also recalled Kos’s slip-ups at the embassy in Germany and her early departure from it, and also pointed out, in general, that she is not qualified for the post she is seeking. At the same time, the media outlet also noted that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tanja Fajon, is better qualified for the post.
Inappropriate use of funds, holidays disguised as business trips …
Von der Leyen will find herself in trouble if Kos “delivers the same performance” as she did in her role as ambassador. The media highlighted her lack of diplomatic or foreign policy experience, which was also reflected in her work on the diplomatic floor (mismanagement of funds, personal holidays disguised as business trips, etc.).
At least the gender quota is met …
Last but not least, the media cannot get past the accusations of cooperation with the Yugoslav secret police, the Directorate for State Security – UDBA. The European People’s Party (EPP) has already announced that they consider Kos to be an unacceptable candidate for this post. But at least the gender quota has been met …
Domen Mezeg
