The Ljubljana City Council has recently confirmed the winners of the Municipal Awards. Actress Milena Zupančič and former President of the Republic Danilo Türk joined the list of honorary citizens of Ljubljana. Councillors unanimously approved Zupančič’s award, while ten voted against Türk.
During the debate, some councillors objected to the title being awarded to Danilo Türk. Aleš Primc, a councillor from the Voice for Children and Families list (Glas za otroke in družine), recalled a statement by Türk on the disclosure of the mass grave site at Huda Jama – namely, the former President said at the time that it was a second-rate issue. “Türk does not fulfil the basic conditions to become an honorary citizen because the title contains the word honour. He is the author of one of the most dishonourable statements in Slovenian history,” Primc pointed out.
Slovenian Democratic Party (Slovenska demokratska stranka – SDS) councillor Anton Grošelj agreed with Primc. “This appalling statement by a lawyer was deeply offensive both to the relatives of the victims and to all of us who believe that in a civilised society, there should be no second-class people, nor second-class victims,” he stressed. “Does anyone really want this high honour to be given to someone whose statements and attitudes have divided rather than brought people together?” he added.
“I cannot accept the words, actions or anything else he did during his term as President of the country,” added the New Slovenia (Nova Slovenija – NSi) councillor Mojca Sojar.
C. Š.
