Due to the repeated failure of the authorities to resolve the Roma issue, the situation in south-eastern Slovenia is deteriorating. “We are no longer talking about isolated incidents, we are talking about persistently increasing violence and fear that has literally engulfed the community,” pointed out MP Anja Bah Žibert of the Slovenian Democratic Party (Slovenska demokratska stranka – SDS).
MP Anja Bah Žibert was critical of the fact that, on the one hand, the authorities allow some people to live outside the rules and laws while also receiving various social transfers, while on the other hand, we have people who ensure that these transfers can be paid out by the country and who, of course, have to live by the rules and laws. “Such a country is no longer legal or fair. People are simply fed up with the authorities taking almost half of their wages every month, while on the other hand, these authorities are no longer able to ensure the basic standards and principles of the state when it comes to the safety of the people and their property,” she said.
The Slovenian Democratic Party parliamentary group has repeatedly drawn attention to this challenging issue. “We have warned that if the government does not take action, the situation will worsen.” Twice during this term, they have also proposed the establishment of a subcommittee to monitor Roma issues, which would focus its activities on this issue, seeking solutions and proposing measures. “But the coalition has always rejected these proposals. What’s more, we often hear from the coalition that they care about this vulnerable group, which is what the Roma are as an ethnic group. During this term, they have only managed to prepare one report on the situation of the Roma community, and that was for 2022, even though the law clearly stipulates that such a report must be adopted for each year,” she explained, expressing criticism of the Government Office for Nationalities. “It is practically non-functional. During this term, all we have been able to learn from this office is that they are constantly changing acting officials.”
The situation is worsening due to inaction
According to the MP, the situation is deteriorating due to all these failures to act. This has been pointed out not only by the SDS party, but also repeatedly by the mayors of the municipalities of south-eastern Slovenia. The latter recently stated that the situation is worsening, which is of particular concern to them as representatives of the local community. “They are receiving responses with zero real content from the ministries. There are no serious measures, let alone timetables for when anything is supposed to change,” she said, reminding us that the mayors were not just warning about the situation. In 2023, they submitted a package of four bills to the National Assembly that would regulate the situation of children and young people from difficult social backgrounds. However, under the pretext of preparing its own proposals, the ruling coalition rejected all of them, which today appears to be a great missed opportunity. “To date, the coalition has done nothing to address this,” she said critically.
The MP does not find it surprising that there are already seven grassroots civil initiatives operating in this area, which were not created because people did not want to live in harmony, but because of necessity. “They point out that they can no longer live as they do today and that they demand that the state ensure their safety and the safety of their property,” she pointed out, adding that the fact is that in south-eastern Slovenia, the Roma population is mostly or almost entirely unemployed. In her opinion, this is also proof “that, in terms of social transfer policy, some unwise decisions have been made, or that fundamental changes are needed to enable this population to willingly participate in the labour market.”
She emphasised that crime among young people is a cause for concern. “Roma youths attack their peers as well as adults, which shows that we have failed both in the education process and in terms of their integration into society.” Farmers report theft of crops and slaughter of livestock, which, in her opinion, is not only horrific in itself, but also threatens their income. “This needs to be changed and regulated so that these people are not practically prevented from living a normal life. In light of all this, the SDS party not only points out that citizens have a constitutional right to protection, but also a constitutional right to security, security of their property, and a constitutionally guaranteed right to compulsory education,” she said clearly.
Wednesday’s committee meeting will discuss their nine conclusions
MP Bah Žibert said that they are not just issuing warnings, but have also prepared concrete measures. These are contained in the draft conclusions that will be discussed on Wednesday by the Committee on Petitions, Human Rights and Equal Opportunities. The key proposals include: changes to legislation that would increase the responsibility of social transfer recipients, stricter rules on regular school attendance, more effective measures in the field of employment, stricter sanctions for repeat offences, and the introduction of a legal basis for compensation for victims of violent crimes. As the MP pointed out, “We allocate approximately 20 million euros per year to Roma issues. From this amount, we need to ensure that people affected by burglaries, violence, and the destruction of crops by Roma are provided with some form of compensation. Many who are victims of violence suffer serious consequences, and this burden should not remain on their shoulders.”
Among other things, the SDS party also believes that pre-trial procedures need to be changed when it comes to anonymous reports. “Today, it often happens that no proceedings are initiated because the report was anonymous. It is important to understand that people choose this form of reporting because they fear retaliation. Anonymous reporting should be sufficient to ensure that proceedings are carried out in cases of criminal conduct and other forms of misconduct.”
According to her, the residents of south-eastern Slovenia have the right to safety, dignity, and a peaceful life. “The state must guarantee this right,” she emphasised, expressing her expectation that the governing coalition will support the nine proposed conclusions in the Committee on Petitions and ensure that matters begin to be resolved. “Because if the government is unable to ensure the safety of its citizens and their property and to ensure that order and peace prevail in the country, then such a government has no right to govern,” she said clearly.
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